Emily Clement

Emily Clement is the second scholastically talented child in her family.

The daughter of Blue Earth residents, Lennie and Karen Clement, Emily joins the ranks of her older brother, Nathan, as a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

In order to be eligible, Clement says she took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. This test is meant as a practice run for taking the SAT. She first took the exam as a sophomore in the fall of 2007 and again as a junior in the fall of 2008.

Last week, BEA High School principal Jack Eustice was notified of Clement’s accomplishment. She placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students vying for the academic honor.

She, along with about 34,000 other Commended Students throughout the nation, are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although Clement will not continue in the 2010 competition for National Merit Scholarships, she says some colleges see her accomplishment as a Commended Student and may offer her ‘x’ amount of dollars per year because of the academic promise the test assures.

“Going to school the past 12 years prepared me for the test,” says a modest Clement. “Otherwise, I really didn’t do anything special to prepare for it.”

A senior at BEA, Clement is looking at schools which offer a degree in architecture. Currently, the schools of most interest to her include the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus), Iowa State University and the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

The classes Clement is currently studying indicate how scholastically talented she is. They include: American literature; challenge literature; advanced placement calculus; pre-calculus; challenge government; philosophy and world religions; and band. She also is taking French through the University of Minnesota.

In addition to her academic involvement, Clement also participates in gymnastics, cross country, cheerleading, math league, knowledge bowl and plays the French horn in band.

In her spare time, Clement says she enjoys reading, watching movies and traveling with her family.

“Pay attention in class, but don’t take it too seriously,” advises Clement. “And be involved in something.”

The young men and women named Commended Students represent some of the most academically talented students in the country. It is hoped this recognition will enhance their educational opportunities and encourage them in their pursuit of academic success.

Clement will be presented a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, at the Kiwanis Academic Banquet in May.