Virden earns scholarship

GREENVILLE – Virginia Virden, a senior and member of the National Honor Society (NHS) at St. Joseph   School has been named one of 300 national semifinalists in the National Honor Society Scholarship program. Virden was chosen from more than 25,000 applicants and will receive a $1,500 scholarship.
“Virginia has been a vital part of the St. Joseph family since she began in her seventh grade and we are sorry to see her go, but definitely wish her the best,” said Missi Blackstock, NHS advisor
High school seniors who are members in good standing of an active NHS chapter are able to apply for an NHS scholarship. Finalists are selected on the basis of their leadership skills; participation in service organizations, clubs, and other student groups at school and in the community; and their academic record.
While at St. Joseph, Virden has been president of the National Honor Society, class vice-president, Wendy’s Heisman school winner, Secretary of Mu Alpha Theta, Mississippi Scholar, Guaranty Bank’s Guaranteed Achiever, on the Mayor’s Youth Council, St. Joseph STAR student, along with being captain of the cheer squad and won awards in tennis and soccer. This fall she plans to attend Southern Methodist University to study political science.

St. Joe students attend congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington

GREENVILLE – St. Joseph High School  12th grader, Katherine Anne Terracina, and Virginia Virden, 11th grader, attended the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, D.C., Nov 14-16.
The congress is an honors-only program for high school students who want to become physicians or go into medical research fields. The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be physicians, medical scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

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Teracina

Terracina and Virden were nominated by Dr. Connie Marian, the medical director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent Mississippi based on their academic achievements, leadership potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of medicine.
During the three-day congress, both students joined students from across the country to listen to Nobel Laureates and National Medal of Science winners talk about leading medical research; receive advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans on what is to be expected in medical school; witness stories told by patients who are living medical miracles; be inspired by fellow teen medical science prodigies; and learn about cutting-edge advances and the future in medicine and medical technology.

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Virden

“This is a crucial time in America when we need more doctors and medical scientists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially,” said Richard Rossi, executive director, National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists.
“Focused, bright and determined students like Katherine Anne and Virginia are our future and they deserve all the mentoring and guidance we can give them,” Rossi said.
The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists was founded on the belief that we must identify prospective medical talent at the earliest possible age and help these students acquire  necessary experience and skills to take them to the doorstep of this vital career.