Lake City seniors finalists for National Merit scholarships

Two Lake City High seniors join two seniors at the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy in holding claim to a prestigious title: National Merit Finalist.

Jake Wayman and Shannon Behary learned last month they’d made the cut from semifinalists and could get one of three types of scholarships: one from the National Merit organization, a corporate-sponsored one or a college-sponsored one. The 18-year-olds join Charter Academy seniors Julian Lemke and Alex Kramar as Coeur d’Alene’s finalists.

If Wayman had to attribute his success on the PSAT – the test that determines National Merit Finalists – to one thing, he’d probably pick his diet.

“I ate a good breakfast,” the Lake City High senior said when asked how he prepared.

That breakfast served him well. Wayman scored in the 99th percentile and learned last month he’s a National Merit Finalist.

“That was a good day,” he said.

The four seniors are part of about 15,000 finalists. Though all qualify, only about half will receive scholarships because there aren’t enough to go around.

“If there was enough money, they would all win awards,” said Eileen Artemakis, spokeswoman for the National Merit Scholarship organization.

In a previous Inside Our Schools column, Lemke described himself and Kramar as “ostracized nerds.” But the term doesn’t seem to fit Wayman, student body president, captain of the club lacrosse team and president of the school’s community service group, the Key Club. Student Council Adviser Deanne Clifford scoffed at the mere mention – after all, he got elected student body president somehow, right?

“It was a really good speech,” he quipped. “Plus, I’m the coolest kid in the school, so that doesn’t hurt.”

Wayman’s wry sense of humor shows up on his MySpace page, where he answers the social networking Web site’s standard question of “Who I’d like to meet,” with “You. I bet you’re a cool person. We should hang out. Call me? oh, I see. No, its ok. Most people are too cool for all that. Uh, can I still say Hi if I… No? OK. Well I guess I’ll just get going then. See ya around? Oh sure, no eye contact, got it.”

Like Wayman, Behary said she didn’t study for the PSAT. She’s thrilled to be named a finalist and excited at what it could do for her future.

“It’s opened up a lot of doors,” she said. But she’s hesitant to rattle off a list of choice schools.

“Quite honestly, it’ll probably turn out to be whatever I can afford. I don’t want to fall in love with a college and find out I can’t afford it,” she said. “I’ve got colleges all across the country I’m looking at.”

Wayman can name a couple prospects – the University of Oklahoma and Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Oklahoma will give him a scholarship, money for a laptop and money to study abroad.

“The Sooners – I dunno – they’re bangin’,” Wayman said, a testament to the offer’s appeal.

But Westminster’s offer is sweet, too, he said. And there’s a lacrosse team. Plus, “The skiing is out of this world,” he said.

Behary shares Wayman’s wealth of extracurricular activities and high grades. She’s on the debate team, in the gay-straight alliance, and is a member of the scholastic team – a student group that participates in knowledge and quiz competitions with other schools.

She isn’t sure what she’d like to study but is leaning toward international studies or women’s studies.

“I’m definitely more into English and history, and, like, language-type stuff than math and science, but I am taking physics and calculus,” Behary said.

As is to be expected, Wayman and Behary are itching to graduate but are busy with the activities and demands that come after four years at the same school. Wayman says he hasn’t been to his government class in two weeks – he’s busy with student council activities and other demands.

“Everybody has,” Behary said with a laugh when asked if she had senioritis.

But with those two, their definition of the term seems to mean more an angst to graduate than a tendency to ditch class.