With merit: Central student among National Merit semifinalists

Over the next few weeks, the Southeast Missourian will introduce you to some extraordinary students: three National Merit semifinalists. National Merit semifinalists scored big on the PSAT-- beating 99 percent of other test-takers. Out of more than 1.5 million juniors who took the test, only 16,000 were named semifinalists. They will now compete for finalist standing by submitting records, an application and recommendations -- with the hope of winning a scholarship.

Garion M. Lovig

School: Cape Girardeau Central High School

Age: 16

Activities/clubs: Academic competition team (captain of the varsity team), Awaken Bible Study Group (co-president), Political Interest Group, Chamber Choir, Math Field Day, Youth Worship Team at Christ Church of the Heartland (vocalist/backup keyboardist), Puppet Power Ministries (senior member)

Favorite teacher: Nita DuBose. She was my physics teacher my junior year and was always willing to help all of her students in their work. She is extraordinarily funny and loves to laugh. She also is the teacher sponsor of the Awaken Bible Study Group.

Best subject: Mathematics. It just all seems to make sense.

Typical weekend: Friday is always fair game. Usually it's a movie party with my friends, but sometimes I'll head out to the Glorious Praise church for their Friday night worship service, which is always awesome. Saturday is generally a laid-back day where I'm researching Austrian economics or the Libertarian school of thought or playing video games. Sometimes I have worship practice, but usually Saturdays are rest days. Sunday is the best day of the weekend. [Christ Church of the Heartland] service in the morning, an awesome dinner with my family after that, followed by the teens small group meetings Sunday night. After all of that, I'm usually ready to go back to school, with my homework having been done at some point in the middle of all that.

Post-graduation plans: I plan to attend either Caltech [California Institute of Technology] in Pasadena, Calif., or MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology] in Boston and attain a degree in mathematics with a possible second major in economics, physics or political science.

Three words to describe me: Leadership, passionate, diverse.

If I could change one thing about high school: I would definitely change the requirement of PE classes for graduation. While the obesity rate in America is a problem, it should be up to the parents, not the state, to raise their children to be active individuals. ... And I don't like PE.

Funniest high school moment: Continually being asked if I was a senior as a sophomore, and also being asked if I was 16 when I was 13 as a freshman. This continues today, but not in high school.

Best high school moment: When I couldn't breathe because I found out I had gotten a 36 on my first try of the ACT. I had high blood pressure for the rest of the day.