Michael Davis

Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Alexander Graham Bell, and Benjamin Franklin. They’ve all helped shape the world as we know it today and improved the quality of life for us all. Where do these geniuses and innovators come from? Well, they come from every part of the world; every walk of life. They can be found right in our own neighborhood attending our own local high schools. They can be found in many of our own children.

Michael Davis, a senior at Plum High School, is just one remarkable student who is on his way to attaining great things in his life. His mathematic, analytical, and communication skills are already causing him to stand out in his school and in his community. Besides winning several math and science competitions, he also received a four-year scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh. He will be pursuing a degree in computer engineering. This choice of career stems from an early love for computers. Michael has been playing on the computer since he was six years old when his dad first brought the computer home, and he’s been fascinated with computers ever since.

He recently received the AP Scholar Award for advanced placement. Each September The College Board recognizes high school students who have distinguished themselves academically by announcing AP Award recipients. The award information is sent to colleges. Michael received the top score on all three tests that he took.

Another of Michael’s recent achievements was a second place medal for the state finals of the Science Olympiad. He won this for a computer event that he participated in along with his brother Chris, a freshman at Plum. Their project was to find information on the Internet and compile it in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and turn it in. It was then graded on how much information was correct. The topic they chose was the Population in US & PA and how it is split into different groups.

And the list of awards goes on! In addition, he participated in the annual regional Calcusolve Competition, which was held at Hempfield High School, and was awarded a first place overall in the team event as well as a first place for the individual competition. In this competition there are two sections; one team problem with two questions and eight individual problems “they were pretty tough.” The Calcusolve Competition is an annual math competition that Michael has been participating in for several years.

Currently Michael is in the Semifinalist stage of the National Merit Scholarship Program competition. Out of the 1.3 million who are given the PSAT/NMSQT test, 50,000 with the highest scores are chosen for acknowledgement. These scores are based on verbal, math, and writing skills ability. Those chosen will qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. As part of this the NMSC notifies the student’s two college or university choices that they have qualified for either a Commended Student or Semifinalist position. Since this achievement is difficult to attain to, this looks very impressive when applying to a college.

Besides all of the competitions that Michael participates in he enjoys reading, film, and of course, computers. He also attends St. John the Baptist Church with his brother and parents, Maureen and Tom.