Raymond Pace Jr. continues his quest for academic excellence.
The West Nassau High School senior is a semifinalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Michael N. Coleman of Yulee High and Josie L. Kilburn of Fernandina Beach High School join Pace as Nassau County’s semifinalists. They are among 16,000 semifinalists across the U.S.
Approximately 15,000 students will advance as finalists. Students will be notified in February if they have advanced. Pace will submit an application and essay by Wednesday to complete the entry requirements.
Pace earned a PSAT score of 1490 out of 1520 in his junior year, culminating in a 224-selection index that qualifies for the scholarship competition. The 17-year-old plans to study chemical engineering at Vanderbilt University, the University of Florida or Georgia Tech. He visited Vandy during the summer and was impressed with the facilities.
Pace takes practice SAT tests often to determine how to tackle any academic weaknesses.
“A lot of times I don’t study specific topics,” he said. “I take practice tests to figure out which topics to spend time on – and to just get the timing of the test down within time constraints.”
Pace practices to ensure that he isn’t spending too much time on a question or section. If he’s slower in one section, he readjusts his study time to refresh on the information, especially if it is a subject or class he hasn’t taken recently.
“I’ll almost, like, calculate how many questions there are, particularly in reading,” he said. “I’ll calculate how much time I’ll need for reading passages, because the test usually has a set number of passages.”
Pace is also a 2017 Sunshine State Scholar. Teacher Karol Siusta teaches honors classes in chemistry and physics. She attended the Sunshine State Scholar presentation in Orlando in May with Pace and his parents, Raymond and Karen.
She has known Pace since he was a sophomore.
“In my class, I notice his listens to every word that is being said and tries to align this new content with information he has obtained in the past,” she wrote via email Friday.
“This trait is extremely unique. The other process Raymond uses to solidify his knowledge is helping others who may not understand the concepts being studied. The best way to truly understand a concept is communicate it in a way that others can also understand. Raymond does not give others answers. He explains to other students the process he uses to assist them in seeing a topic in a different way.”
Pace said that he desires to succeed academically so that he can attend college and have a professional career.
“I enjoy knowledge and the challenge of learning itself,” he added.
The teen doesn’t spend all his time hitting the books. He is a left guard on the Warrior football team and serves in the Beta Club.
Music is another passion.
“I really do enjoy football,” he said. “I enjoy serving in my church. I play keyboard for the youth band. And I also assist with the sound board for our Saturday night service.”
Pace said he is fortunate to be listed as a semifinalist among so many other students.
“I feel blessed beyond measure,” he said.