ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Stasia May, a senior at Robertsdale High, was recently informed that she had been selected as a National Merit Semi-finalist, which puts her in a position to bring in some serious scholarship dollars from a variety of universities.

“To get to the finalist level, I’ll need to write an essay, have Ms. (Theresa) Bryant write me a letter of recommendation, list all of the clubs and community projects I’ve volunteered for, and take the SAT at Bayside Academy,” May said.

The only child of Elizabeth May of Robertsdale, Stasia said she is currently considering the University of Alabama in Birmingham and Auburn University.

“I know I want to have a career in education,” she said. “Whether that’s as a high school teacher or a college professor, I’m not real sure at this time. I know that teaching at the collegiate level would take longer as I would need my doctorate.”

If she taught at the college level, May said she would make more money, plus she wouldn’t have the discipline problems to deal with that high schools can present.

“My mom taught English as a second language at Faulkner State Community College for a number of years,” she said. “She told me that her final consisted of taking the class to a restaurant and having them order in English. She also had them make a substitution in English as well.”

May said she recently took the ACT for the first time. This past week she was notified that she had made a 33. At present she has a 4.01 grade point average.

May said with her schoolwork, band and club activities, that holding a job down in the afternoon would probably have to wait until the Christmas Holidays to apply.

“I don’t have a lot of time, considering my schedule, but what little free time that I have I’m either playing video games or reading,” she said. “Although I enjoy mysteries the last book I read was Catch 22.”

Listening to books on tape or Compact Disc, she said, is a great way to enjoy a good book.

“I remember one book that tried to read, and I ended up putting it down,” she said. “When I got it on CD and had someone to read it to me the plot came together and I felt that I understood what the author was trying to say.”

May said that even though she is in the Golden Bear Marching Band’s percussion section, she doesn’t march because she plays the vibraphone.

“This is my seventh year, including my time at Central Baldwin Middle School, of playing in the band,” she said. “It’s something that I really enjoy doing as we really have a great band that contains a number of top-notch musicians.”

Band, she said, takes a tremendous amount of time.

“I normally have four days of practice, including my involvement with the jazz band, in addition to the game on Friday night,” she said. “Sectionals are also a part of the practice routines.”

May serves as captain of the RHS Scholar’s bowl, is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, a math organization, and the Future Teachers of America.

“I was also a member of the Model United Nations my freshman and sophomore years,” she said.

As for Scholars Bowl, May said she tried to get the trivia and literature questions, such as those about Shakespeare and Greek and Roman mythology.

Whether she becomes Dr. May, and stands in from of a collegiate English/literature class, or just Ms. May to a group of high school students only time will tell. One thing’s for sure, though, Stasia May will be an academic success story that was made possible by her attention to detail and her work ethic.