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A first for her high school

A Collegiate High School senior becomes a semifinalist for a national scholarship.

By RITA FARLOW, Times Staff Writer
Published October 10, 2007

Kelsey Smith participates in a discussion about William Blake's poem "The Chimney Sweeper" while attending world literature class at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater.
	[Douglas R. Clifford | Times]

Kelsey Smith, a senior at St. Petersburg Collegiate High School, was one of three Pinellas County students named as a semifinalist in the 2008 National Achievement Scholarship Program, which honors black students for excellence in education.

The other semifinalists are Jamilla Bigby from the International Baccalaureate program at St. Petersburg High School and LaTosha Thompson of St. Petersburg High. The three were selected based on the scores they received on their preliminary SAT tests.

Of the 140,000 or so students who entered the competition when they took the test last fall, only 1,600 made it to the semifinalist round. The program, established in 1964, is administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

Smith, 17, the daughter of Frank and Teri Smith, of Largo, said she was surprised and honored when she found out she was the first St. Petersburg Collegiate student to become a semifinalist.

"It feels great to be able to honor my school by adding my accomplishment to their record," she said.

St. Petersburg Collegiate High School opened in August 2004 on the St. Petersburg College Gibbs campus.

Students there have the opportunity to fulfill their high school requirements while taking college classes, which allows them to graduate with their diploma and an associate's degree at the same time.

Smith said she's engaged in her college classes, which include psychology, humanities and world literature.

"It doesn't feel like a heavy course load when I really don't mind doing the work," Smith said.

Learning new things is exciting, the teen said.

"Knowledge of something makes me want to experience it, and mistakes inspire me to learn and do better," she said.

Smith said she doesn't particularly feel like a role model and is an average teen who loves to shop and hang out with family and friends. And she admits she checks MySpace a little too frequently.

She makes time for swing dancing once a week and acting in the Bay Area Renaissance Festival.

She's also in her 12th year with the Girl Scouts.

She said she tries to balance her responsibilities and fun. "Nobody can be serious all the time. People need to stress less and laugh more," she said.

About 1,300 students will be selected as Achievement Scholar finalists in January. A month later, that number will be whittled down to 800 award winners who will receive a total of more than $2.5-million in scholarships.

[Last modified October 9, 2007, 21:12:01]