Bluffton High senior a semifinalist in national scholarship program

Oct 11, 2009 (The Beaufort Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- GYMB | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Bluffton High School senior DeShara Gadson allowed for little slack-off time during her final year of high school.

She choreographs for her school's majorette dance team, works part-time at Gymboree in the Tanger Outlet Center, sings for the youth choir at Queen Chapel AME Church, baby-sits her 6-year-old brother and participates in about half a dozen school clubs.

That's in addition to the three Advanced Placement classes she's taking this year.

"I can't have senior-itis," she said. "There's no room for it. I've got to be on the ball this year."

The 17-year-old learned last month that her hard work is paying off. She was named a semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, an academic competition established to recognize outstanding black high school students.

Forty-five seniors in 30 South Carolina public high schools have been named semifinalists because of their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

They will compete against 1,600 semifinalists from across the United States for about 800 scholarships worth more than $2.6 million this spring.

Gadson said she wants to attend an in-state college and study both Spanish and education. She plans to apply to Winthrop University, the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston this month.

She hopes to teach pre-kindergarten, kindergarten or first grade after she graduates.

"I just love little kids," she said. "Most of them are eager to learn. They don't see school as a burden. I like the way they light up when you read to them."

Gadson volunteered at the Children's Center on Hilton Head Island this summer and still visits if she has a day off from school. She reads to children, sings with them and helps with arts and crafts projects.

Marsha Jenkins, who teaches a class of 4- and 5-year-olds at the center, said the kids liked working with Gadson, who can guess what children need even before they ask her for it.

"She is a very calm person with the children, and children pick up on things like that," Jenkins said. "She's a people person and she has a cheerful attitude. She comes in with a smile and she leaves with a smile."

When she's not busy with school or volunteering, Gadson said she loves to shop and play board games with her best friend and listen to music. She said she likes a variety of bands and genres, from Rascal Flatts to Fall Out Boy to Alicia Keys.

"I like songs that I can relate to," she said. "I love to sing along to every song on the radio. Sometimes it drives people crazy."

Gadson is the daughter of Stephanie Gadson and Darrell Gadson Sr. of Bluffton.

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