Ava Selby
Contributing Writer
Senior Samuel Hewitt has been nominated for the Presidential Scholars Program, received the Missouri Scholars 100 Award and has been named a National Merit Finalist.
To be nominated for the Presidential Scholars Program, students must be chosen for outstanding performance on the ACT or SAT, or receive a nomination by the chief state school officer.
Hewitt said, via email, “I was definitely surprised when I got a letter from the Presidential Scholars program because I thought it was too prestigious for someone like me, but even though it’s just a recognition, it was still nice to see that a program like that cared at least a little about all the work I’ve done during high school.”
Hewitt has also been named a National Merit semifinalist for doing exceptionally well on his PSAT his junior year, scoring a 1460. After qualifying, Hewitt went on to be named a finalist.
Hewitt has participated in Scholar Bowl since his junior year. Scholar Bowl is a quiz-based competition that tests players on a wide variety of academic subjects.
Hewitt said via email, “Personally, I’ve learned a lot through Scholar Bowl, especially knowledge which normally I wouldn’t use in school, and I’ve met a lot of new people and organized fun events like the scholar mile.”
The team has gone from a relatively average team to one that has been ranked very highly at city and state-wide tournaments. It is ranked 18 out of 36 schools in the region.
The team will also go on to participate in nationals in Atlanta for what may be the first time in school history.
Hewitt said, via email, “My personal favorite thing that has happened at a tournament was this March, when we were down 15 points with only two questions left, and I got them both right to win us a crucial playoff game against Columbia Independent School.”
Hewitt said about his experience at Webster, “I’ve learned how to get involved and get out there. I think that it seems you are getting out of your comfort zone, but then you join something new and find that you’re comfortable in there and then you meet new people.”
Hewitt plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis and major in physics and education.
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