DATE: Thursday, October 2, 1997             TAG: 9710010119

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THUMBS UP 

SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  104 lines

RICHARD A. ANDERSON D. RICHARD FELKER III NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SEMI-FINALISTS.

Richard A. ``Ricky'' Anderson and D. Richard ``Rich'' Felker III share a common goal.

Academically talented, both students strive for excellence and are already focused on a career in mathematics or chemistry. And in achieving a specific academic milestone, they are among less than 1 percent of the students in the state's high school graduating class.

Ricky, a senior at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, and Rich, a former N-SA student, are the only Suffolk students, thus far, named semi-finalists in the 1998 Merit Scholarship Competition. They will now advance to the competition's semi-finals.

``This is a national contest and in educational corridors, quite an honor for the students and for the school,'' said Ann Powell, director of college counseling at N-SA. ``Their selection is based primarily by performance on the PSAT given to juniors. Roughly 1 percent of test-takers earn semi-finalist status.''

To be considered for Merit Scholarship awards, semi-finalists must meet additional requirements, which include maintaining an outstanding academic record throughout high school, by being endorsed and recommended by their high school principal, and submitting SAT I scores that confirm their earlier qualifying test performance.

Three types of scholarships will be offered in 1998. Every finalist will be considered for a National Merit $2,000 scholarship.

Some 400 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations will provide Merit Scholarship awards.

In addition, about 200 colleges and universities are expected to sponsor awards.

Rich, who would have been a senior at N-SA this fall, is now attending Christopher Newport University.

``I found out that I could apply there based on my high school transcript and SAT scores,'' he said. ``There were no more math classes for me to take at the Academy.''

A native of Hampton, 16-year-old Rich has grown up in Suffolk and enrolled at N-SA in the first grade. As a junior, he took Advance Placement classes in calculus, chemistry, and U.S. history; Latin IV, and Honors English.

``My senior year will be a miss,'' he said, ``but I like the college atmosphere a lot and I'll try to keep in touch with as many friends as possible.''

Rich, who plans to earn a bachelor's degree in mathematics, designed a web site, ``Exploring Human Ethics,'' with two other students for ThinkQuest, an international computer contest.

``We've just been notified that we are semi-finalists in the contest and can win scholarships,'' said Rich, who started programming on a toy-type computer at 7 or 8. ``I received a real computer in the fourth grade.''

Rich has created a computer design team with his 13-year-old brother, Steven, and a friend.

``I started experimenting in the spring,'' he said. ``I'm working on a computer game, a design for a fantasy-type, three-dimensional world. I want to market it.''

At N-SA, Rich was a member of the Honor Society and Chess Club, and had his poems published in ``Spectrum,'' a magazine featuring art, short stories and poetry by students. He also portrayed a young Scrooge in the school's production of ``A Christmas Carol.''

He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Rick Felker Jr. of Suffolk.

Ricky, 16, was born in Virginia Beach and lived in Norfolk until he was 7. The Anderson family moved to Sicily when his dad was transferred with the Navy, and then spent two years in Hawaii.

Ricky has been an honor student at N-SA since the eighth grade and says he has always chosen the most challenging classes. Throughout his high school years, Ricky has received only one B on a pre-calculus test and he remembers it well.

``But I would take a B over an A if it was the highest grade in the class,'' he said, laughing. ``I want to be the best. I've been competing for valedictorian with two friends since the eighth grade. At least, it started out that way. Now, I just enjoy learning. I have a good memory, but I've spent many hours plugging out homework.''

In addition to hard work, Ricky says another secret of his success is attitude.

``Last year, I took AP(advanced placement) chemistry and for the first time, I was learning something that applied to the real world,'' he said. ``Then, in AP biology, I could see how it all fits together.''

Ricky is chairman of the Honor Council at N-SA. This past summer, he attended the Math and Science Division of the Governor's School in Lynchburg, and American Legion Boys State. As a junior, he received a Certificate of Merit on the National Spanish Exam, and was the school division nominee for the U.S. Senate Youth Program. He also received the Rollins Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership in Academics and Character, and earned his Eagle Scout Award.

Ricky enjoys reading and has a collection of about 2,000 books, mostly those dealing with science fiction. A skill that he learned in Italy is juggling bean bags or clubs while riding a unicycle.

Next fall, Ricky plans to attend the College of William and Mary to pursue a double major in chemistry and biology.

``I'm not sure yet, but I may pursue a master's in bio-chemistry or attend law school,'' he said.

Ricky is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Anderson of Chesapeake. He has a sister, Carrie, 15. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Richard A. Anderson, left, and D. Richard Felker III

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