Rachel Hedge is one media-savvy 16-year-old.
She's been interviewed after dominant performances in softball, track and field hockey. As spokesman for the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council, she's been televised addressing city leaders. And this is the second time she's played "meet the press" after being named the state's best student.
The Manchester Memorial High School junior is Francis Wayland Parker Scholar of the Month for February. She earned the same honor as a sophomore in November 2006.
The last time Hedge was named top scholar, her guidance counselor, John Bugden, said his job was to help his star pupil set priorities for her many interests and activities.
It's not been easy.
Some students, said Bugden, are known as athletes. Some are brainiacs. Others are serial volunteers.
Hedge fits all three categories.
"She's probably one of the best-known students in the school," said Bugden.
If anything, Hedge has broadened her activities in the year since she last won the award.
She remains active nearly year-round in sports, has kept up her work fighting alcohol abuse, ranks ninth in a class of 535, and for the first time this year, volunteers daily in Memorial's guidance office.
Previously, she put biology and genetics at the top of her academics list.
While she may still pursue that as a major in college, Hedge said she's recently been tapping into her liberal arts side.
"I took a creative writing class this year, and I loved it," she said.
Hedge wants to play softball throughout college, and she's leaning toward small schools in New England with strong academic reputations. Worcester Polytechnic, Fairfield, Holy Cross and Bowdoin are on her list.
"I think I could excel there as a scholar, and possibly as an athlete, too," she said.
Hedge used her creative writing skills in composing the winning scholarship essay.
She imagined a scenario in which she presents an award to Parker, a 19th-century educator considered the father of modern education.
"Before his influence," wrote Hedge, "students were forced to learn in a boring environment fraught with strict punishment for the smallest things. ...Today, schools around the nation make learning fun and creative by using other ideas of the Colonel, like visual aids, hands-on activities, and requiring less memorization."
The Francis Wayland Parker Scholarship program is sponsored by the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Union Leader, Verizon, Lifetouch Studios and the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Northern New England.
The runners-up for the February Scholar of the Month award are: Brendan Bertagnoll, Goffstown High School; Jillian Claridge, Inter-Lakes Regional High School, Meredith; Leanna Coolen, Conant High School, Jaffrey; Elizabeth Driscoll, Dover High School; Phillip Houston, Campbell High School, Litchfield; Taylor Joyce, Moultonborough Academy; Christina Kelly, Manchester West High School; Yik Yu "Christine" Lee, Manchester Central High School; Caitlin Olson, Alvirne High School, Hudson.
For more information, call the New Hampshire Association of School Principals at 225-3431.
