by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Hard work and determination recently paid off for Apollo High School senior William Clark of St. Joseph.
Clark was recently awarded a $40,000 Presidential Scholarship for the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
“I’m really excited to go to the University of Minnesota,” Clark said. “I’m extremely interested in the nursing field and excited to learn more.”
Clark has maintained 4.0 grade-point-average during all four years of high school. He also participates in Spanish Club, National Honor Society and Link Crew at Apollo High School while working part-time at Mill’s Fleet Farm in Waite Park.
Clark’s father, Scott, said Will acquired the drive to always give his best from his mother, Michelle, and her family.
Michelle’s family is from Viet Nam. Her parents came to the United States in 1974 following the U.S. military withdrawal from that country.
“We are very thankful and blessed his hard work has paid off with his scholarship,” Scott said.
Clark has been accepted into the early program at the University of Minnesota Nursing Program and plans to do something in the medical field.
At present, he doesn’t think he wants to spend 12 more years in school to become a doctor, but his mother is hoping he will change his mind about that once he gets started.
“I’m extremely grateful (to) everyone who has helped me to get where I am,” Clark said.
Clark has one sister, Lily, a sophomore at Apollo High School; and two brothers – Nick, a sixth-grader; and Alexander, a fifth-grader, both at Kennedy Community School.
Scott has been a social-studies teacher for 35 years. He currently teaches seventh-grade U.S. history at South Junior High School in St. Cloud. Michelle works as an accounts manager at Merrill Corp. in Sartell.
Apollo High School senior William Clark, a St. Joseph resident, was recently awarded a $40,000 Presidential Scholarship from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and plans to study in the medical field.
