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September 17, 2013Constitution Week: To love it, we must live it
September 17, 2013
Twelve, going on 13, years of friendly competition have taken two Vandebilt seniors all the way to the top one-half of 1 percent of students in the United States who took their preliminary SAT.
“We have been in school together since kindergarten,” said Emily Folse, a senior at Vandebilt Catholic High School. “Our friendly competition has spanned years and years. Each year, we both won the award for most academic achievements in our classes at St. Bernadette’s, and luckily we were only in the same (homeroom) class once.
“We have always been super-supportive of each other.”
Folse, daughter of Mark and Monica Folse of Houma, and fellow classmate Sarah Cagle, daughter of Sam and Madeline Cagle of Gray, were both recently named National Merit semifinalists. The girls, both 17, are the only semifinalists from the Tri-parish area and 32nd National Merit semifinalists in the school’s history. The girls are two of 16,000 semifinalists from around the country, and the program’s 15,000 finalists will be announced next spring. Every finalist competes for a $2,500 single-payment scholarship, which will be awarded on a state representational basis.
“We are certain they will be finalists,” said Lisa Vega, director of advancement and public relations at Vandebilt. “We are also expecting several students to the Commended Students list.”
The girls found out last week about their semifinalist status, and the young ladies as well as their parents were thrilled by the news.
“I was surprised,” Folse said. “I took the test in 10th grade, and I made a good increase in my score this time. I know there is a cut off score on the test to make the National Merit finalist. I found out the cut off score last week and knew that I had made it.
“My parents were ecstatic. The principal told me dad as he and I were leaving morning mass.”
“My parents were so excited,” Cagle said. “I prepared a lot for PSAT. I can’t say I was surprised.”
“We are both extremely hard on ourselves,” Folse said. “A 100 on a test is great, but we see 99 as a failure.”
The girls will next have to find time in their busy academic and extracurricular activity schedules to write an essay for the final leg of the competition. Cagle is a member of the school’s choir, Soldiers in Christ, Pro-Life, Campus Ministry and Faith Fellowship Service, as well as vice president of the Honors Society. Folse is a member of the choir, theater, her biggest passion, Student Council, Key Club, Soldiers in Christ and Campus Ministry and president of the Honors Society. In addition to being involved in school and the community, both students are also very close to their families, something they both say helps them to be the excellent students they are.
“There is no spare time,” Folse said. “I do spend time with my family. I have one brother, and our family has one dog. We like to walk our dog together and eat dinner together. My family helps me do well. I have that family support at home.”
“Our parents taught us to do our best,” Cagle said. “I have three younger siblings, and the youngest is two. He has actually brought us all closer together. He is spoiled yet adorable.”
With graduation still eight months away, the young ladies, who both say English is their favorite subject, are still contemplating what they will do when the friendly competition ends and they are each handed a diploma.
“I haven’t picked a college yet,” Folse said. “I’ll probably go to a liberal arts school, build up my strengths and decide on a major later. I’ll probably get more specific in graduate school.”
“I’ve pretty much got the same plan,” Cagle said, laughing. “I would like to go to a Catholic college, maybe get a double major and a theology degree.”
While the young ladies are not sure about their post-high school plans, they have long-terms they are both working on.
“I would like to learn seven languages,” Cagle, who is currently taking Latin, said. “I’d also like to have a successful career in the sciences and a big, Catholic family.”
“I want to make a difference (in the world), but don’t know what way I will do that,” Folse said. “I will trust in God to lead me where I need to be. He knows where I need to be.”
“We are blessed that we don’t have to narrow our choices,” Cagle said. “There are so many possibilities.”
Emily Folse, left, and Sarah Cagle stick to the books in the Vandebilt Catholic High School Library. The girls, both seniors, are this year’s only National Merit semifinalists from the Tri-parish area. This marks the 32nd time Vandebilt has had students named semifinalists. Folse and Cagle are among 16,000 students competing for a place in the prestigious competition.
