A St. Charles High School graduate will be heading to Harvard University in the fall, and among her many honors is a National Merit Scholarship.
Evangeline Gilmer, who is set to graduate third in her class at St. Charles’s ceremony on Friday, May 28, was named one of 7,500 winners of the $2,500 scholarship. Each year, the National Merit Scholarship Corp. screens about 1.5 million qualifying students. Of those, only about 16,000 students will be named semifinalists based on their PSAT scores and other achievements.
Earlier this year, Gilmer said she was honored to be a semifinalist for the scholarship. “I am grateful to my teachers and three principals I have had throughout my years of school for always encouraging me to work hard and aim high,” she said.
Gilmer will attend Harvard with plans to major in neuroscience. She has been interested in the medical field since she was 8 years old. “I think I’ve always had a natural love for science and medicine, and I think it’s my purpose in life to serve others,” she said. Gilmer volunteers at the University of Maryland Regional Medical Center where she maintains records and assists patients. At St. Charles, she was a member of the We the People team, National Honor Society and the Red Cross Club.
When she carves out free time, most of Gilmer’s hobbies include music. “I think my commitment to music might be a little more than what would qualify as a hobby,” she said. “But it’s definitely the biggest thing I do outside of school.” She has played the violin for 13 years, the piano for about 14 years and the flute for eight. Gilmer is the concertmaster for the Charles County Youth Orchestra and won the Charles County Youth Orchestra 2020 Concerto Competition. She was named to the Maryland Junior All State Band twice and took part in the National Philharmonic Summer Strings Institute.
It’s not all studying and practice — Gilmer is a confirmed Star Wars fan. Far, far away from just the movie franchise, Gilmer devours novels, comics and shows set in the Star Wars-verse. And like so many, she finds herself browsing Instagram and YouTube.
Gilmer was honored by the Board of Education in April during the student recognition portion of the meeting. At that time, St. Charles Principal Richard Conley said Gilmer is a “once in a lifetime student.”
With high school almost officially over — St. Charles kicks of the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) high school graduations on Friday, May 28 — Gilmer is looking forward to moving to Cambridge to begin college. “I am very excited about going to Harvard and am looking forward to having the freedom to sign up for classes that completely fit my interests,” she said. “Besides that, my classes will be taught by world-class professors, and I am hoping to do research with professors who are leaders and pioneers in their fields.”
Before classes start, Gilmer hopes to travel a bit. She and her family have crisscrossed the country on summer road trips for as long as she remembers — they visited every state in the U.S., save five. She hopes to get to North Dakota this summer. After that, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington and Oregon are up next.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).
Evangeline Gilmer, who is set to graduate third in her class at St. Charles’s ceremony on Friday, May 28, was named one of 7,500 winners of the $2,500 scholarship. Each year, the National Merit Scholarship Corp. screens about 1.5 million qualifying students. Of those, only about 16,000 students will be named semifinalists based on their PSAT scores and other achievements.
Earlier this year, Gilmer said she was honored to be a semifinalist for the scholarship. “I am grateful to my teachers and three principals I have had throughout my years of school for always encouraging me to work hard and aim high,” she said.
Gilmer will attend Harvard with plans to major in neuroscience. She has been interested in the medical field since she was 8 years old. “I think I’ve always had a natural love for science and medicine, and I think it’s my purpose in life to serve others,” she said. Gilmer volunteers at the University of Maryland Regional Medical Center where she maintains records and assists patients. At St. Charles, she was a member of the We the People team, National Honor Society and the Red Cross Club.
When she carves out free time, most of Gilmer’s hobbies include music. “I think my commitment to music might be a little more than what would qualify as a hobby,” she said. “But it’s definitely the biggest thing I do outside of school.” She has played the violin for 13 years, the piano for about 14 years and the flute for eight. Gilmer is the concertmaster for the Charles County Youth Orchestra and won the Charles County Youth Orchestra 2020 Concerto Competition. She was named to the Maryland Junior All State Band twice and took part in the National Philharmonic Summer Strings Institute.
It’s not all studying and practice — Gilmer is a confirmed Star Wars fan. Far, far away from just the movie franchise, Gilmer devours novels, comics and shows set in the Star Wars-verse. And like so many, she finds herself browsing Instagram and YouTube.
Gilmer was honored by the Board of Education in April during the student recognition portion of the meeting. At that time, St. Charles Principal Richard Conley said Gilmer is a “once in a lifetime student.”
With high school almost officially over — St. Charles kicks of the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) high school graduations on Friday, May 28 — Gilmer is looking forward to moving to Cambridge to begin college. “I am very excited about going to Harvard and am looking forward to having the freedom to sign up for classes that completely fit my interests,” she said. “Besides that, my classes will be taught by world-class professors, and I am hoping to do research with professors who are leaders and pioneers in their fields.”
Before classes start, Gilmer hopes to travel a bit. She and her family have crisscrossed the country on summer road trips for as long as she remembers — they visited every state in the U.S., save five. She hopes to get to North Dakota this summer. After that, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington and Oregon are up next.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).