Two Sharon Academy Students
Are National Merit Semi-Finalists

Two Sharon Academy students, Jessica Wolfe and Tom Leddy-Cecere, have been chosen as National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists. The two share several things in common. Both hail from Strafford, both are involved in both sports and theater, and both give credit to their junior high English teacher, Joey Hawkins, for teaching them how to write well. Both are also members of a most dynamic senior class at TSA.

Wolfe, daughter of Jeff and Dori Wolfe, pointed out that TSA students take PSAT’s as freshmen and sophomores, so that by the time they’re juniors, they have worked through test anxiety and learned how the test is constructed. NMS semi-finalists are chosen based on their PSAT scores. She also admits that she’s a natural test-taker.

Wolfe’s best known at TSA for her musical talents. She is the choral music director for TSA’s upcoming performance of "Chicago," and is the middle school’s chorus teacher. She has also formed an a capella group this year on campus, and finds time to play on the varsity soccer team and be involved in the school’s movement to form a student government.

She says she chose to attend TSA because, "I like how you can make your own program, and if you want something to happen enough, it definitely will. I also love the community feel."

Wolfe hopes to study astrophysics in college, as she’s lately grown interested in string theory. She’s currently considering Cornell and Wesleyan.

Leddy-Cecere, the son of Diana Leddy and Thomas Cecere, admits that he is a committed "generalist," keeping up his pursuit of a variety of academic subjects. He laughingly admitted that keeping so many options open may have him "still looking for a job" when he’s 30, but it seems more likely he’ll have his choice of careers. At TSA, he has captured the lead role as Billy in "Chicago," is captain of the soccer team, manager of the basketball team, and active in both the spring one-act plays and the student government initiative.

Leddy-Cecere chose to attend TSA because "it seemed like a place where I would work with other faculty and students in a truly collaborative effort, not a place where teachers tell kids what to do and kids resent it." He is hoping to attend Middlebury, Amherst, Vanderbilt, the University of Chicago, or Yale, a list which proves he’s keeping his options open.

By Charlie McMeekin