NewsUpper SchoolAcademics
Four named Commended Students by NMSC
Oct 1, 2012 10:20 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Seniors Kelli Maria Crawford, Madeline Gaffney, Patrick Tarrant and Will Warren have been named Commended Students in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of commendation from Darlington and the National Merit Scholarship Corp., which conducts the program, will be presented to these scholastically talented students during assembly.
“Recognizing academically talented students plays a fundamental role in the advancement of educational excellence within our nation,” said a spokesperson for NMSC. “The young people recognized as Commended Students represent some of the best and brightest minds in the country as demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program. We sincerely hope this recognition will provide them with additional educational outlets and motivate them in their pursuit of academic achievement.”
Crawford has taken 15 AP and Honors classes. She is a member of Concert Choir, The Darlingtones a cappella singing group, the staff of The Inkslinger literary magazine and Junior State of America. This year, she is president of The Darlington Players and spiritual life liaison. She has also had a lead role in the past two winter musicals and participated in All-State Chorus. Crawford has received E.L. Wright Awards for Drama and Ladies’ Chorale as well as The Darlington Players Award for Acting. Outside of Darlington, she volunteers at Enon Baptist Church and Agape Hospice. She is the daughter of Gayle Crawford of Rome.
Gaffney has taken 17 AP and Honors classes. She is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Y-Cabinet, The Darlingtones a cappella singing group and the staff of The Inkslinger literary magazine. This year, she is treasurer of the Concert Choir. She has also performed in the last two winter musicals. Outside of school, Gaffney takes dance and is a Girl Scout. She also volunteers at St. James Episcopal Church in Marietta and at Camp Crestridge for Girls in the summer. She is the daughter of Ellen and Chris Gaffney of Acworth, Ga.
Tarrant has taken 17 AP and Honors classes and was recently named an AP Scholar with Distinction by The College Board. He is a member of Darlington’s rowing team and band. Tarrant has received E.L. Wright Awards for AP Environmental Science and English 2 Honors. Outside of school, he is a Boy Scout and a volunteer at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. He also takes piano. He is the son of Melissa and Frederick Tarrant of Rome.
Warren has taken 20 AP and Honors classes and was recently named an AP Scholar with Honor by The College Board. He is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, the Random Notes a cappella singing group and the varsity tennis team. This year, he is president of the Concert Choir, vice president of The Darlington Players and the Honor Council, and secretary of the Y-Cabinet. He also participates in All-State Chorus and All-State Reading Chorus each year. Warren had a lead role in last year’s winter musical and has received the E.L. Wright Award for Men’s Chorale. He is the son of Dr. Ben and Ann Warren of Cartersville, Ga.
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2013 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the 2011 PSAT/NMSQT.
“Recognizing academically talented students plays a fundamental role in the advancement of educational excellence within our nation,” said a spokesperson for NMSC. “The young people recognized as Commended Students represent some of the best and brightest minds in the country as demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program. We sincerely hope this recognition will provide them with additional educational outlets and motivate them in their pursuit of academic achievement.”
Crawford has taken 15 AP and Honors classes. She is a member of Concert Choir, The Darlingtones a cappella singing group, the staff of The Inkslinger literary magazine and Junior State of America. This year, she is president of The Darlington Players and spiritual life liaison. She has also had a lead role in the past two winter musicals and participated in All-State Chorus. Crawford has received E.L. Wright Awards for Drama and Ladies’ Chorale as well as The Darlington Players Award for Acting. Outside of Darlington, she volunteers at Enon Baptist Church and Agape Hospice. She is the daughter of Gayle Crawford of Rome.
Gaffney has taken 17 AP and Honors classes. She is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Y-Cabinet, The Darlingtones a cappella singing group and the staff of The Inkslinger literary magazine. This year, she is treasurer of the Concert Choir. She has also performed in the last two winter musicals. Outside of school, Gaffney takes dance and is a Girl Scout. She also volunteers at St. James Episcopal Church in Marietta and at Camp Crestridge for Girls in the summer. She is the daughter of Ellen and Chris Gaffney of Acworth, Ga.
Tarrant has taken 17 AP and Honors classes and was recently named an AP Scholar with Distinction by The College Board. He is a member of Darlington’s rowing team and band. Tarrant has received E.L. Wright Awards for AP Environmental Science and English 2 Honors. Outside of school, he is a Boy Scout and a volunteer at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. He also takes piano. He is the son of Melissa and Frederick Tarrant of Rome.
Warren has taken 20 AP and Honors classes and was recently named an AP Scholar with Honor by The College Board. He is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, the Random Notes a cappella singing group and the varsity tennis team. This year, he is president of the Concert Choir, vice president of The Darlington Players and the Honor Council, and secretary of the Y-Cabinet. He also participates in All-State Chorus and All-State Reading Chorus each year. Warren had a lead role in last year’s winter musical and has received the E.L. Wright Award for Men’s Chorale. He is the son of Dr. Ben and Ann Warren of Cartersville, Ga.
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2013 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the 2011 PSAT/NMSQT.
