Charlie Ramer is a very well-accomplished senior at Philip Simmons High.
A list of accolades will show that he is an incredibly motived student with a passion for engineering, problem-solving and innovation. He is a quick learner who has already excelled in a few Advanced Placement classes.
He just clinched a big recognition for himself, his school and his school district: Ramer has been named a semifinalist in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The program is a very prestigious academic competition among high school students for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships. Earlier this month, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation released the names of more than 16,000 semifinalists for this year’s program – Ramer is among them, and is the only student in Berkeley County School District to have been named.
Philip Simmons High Principal LaTanya Butler said the school is very excited for Ramer.
“We are so proud of Charlie and his academic achievements,” she said. “He is a very hardworking student who demonstrates the high standards we have set here at Philip Simmons High.”
A press release from the corporation states Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.
To even be named a semifinalist, students must first take the PSAT in their junior year and score within the top 1 percent of test-takers in their state. Ramer ended up making a perfect score on the reading and writing portion of the test.
“I did well on the math too, but the reading and writing score is weighted higher,” he said. “So the fact that I got a perfect score on the reading and writing portion really boosted my composite score.”
Ramer later learned from his school’s counseling department that he was named a semifinalist. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. Ramer said in addition to gathering teacher recommendations, applicants have to complete and essay and also do well on their actual SAT.
“I was pretty proud just to get it, especially because I later found out I was the only (semifinalist) in the district,” he said. “I was really surprised.”
The press release from the National Merit Scholarship corporation states that about 95 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
While the application process to be named a finalist is rigorous, Ramer is no stranger to hard work at Philip Simmons High; he is a very active engineering student with plans to pursue mechanical engineering at a collegiate level next year. He is currently working on applying to Georgia Tech, and is also considering in-state opportunities at Clemson University and the University of South Carolina.
His coursework this semester consists of government/economics, AP calculus and an AP biology course he takes online. Ramer is also a member of the school’s Robotics team and National Honors Society.
He named English/language arts teacher Laura Garner and engineering teacher Kate Sablotsky as some of his most influential staff members at Philip Simmons High.
“Mrs. Sablotsky has been very helpful on the engineering side – teaching, and all the opportunities in the extracurriculars she provides,” Ramer said. “Mrs. Garner has also been really important in helping me improve my overall academics.”
Sablotsky said Ramer is a great student who has been a major asset to the school’s Robotics program.
“He is always super quiet, but you can tell he is thinking and absorbing,” she said. “I love to watch him with the Robotics kids because they are so loud, but he listens and processes what they are saying and then will quietly interject something that will change the outcome of the proposed solution.”
Ramer is the son of Kevin and Claire Ramer. He will be joined by his twin brother Toby in graduating from Philip Simmons High this school year.
Winners of the National Merit Scholarship will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.