Adele Wilson is Claremore High School's 48th Academic All-State Recipient. This prestigious honor is granted to 100 top seniors across Oklahoma. This esteemed award comes with great recognition and provides each recipient with a $1,500 merit-based scholarship, an honor cord, and a medallion. Adele is nothing short of an incredible and well-rounded student, she excels in the arts, engineering, academics, and community service.
She scored an impressive 31 on the ACT, a 4.48 GPA, and to date, she is at the top of her class.. According to the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence's website, recipients are evaluated on numerous qualities such as"... their leadership abilities, motivation, academic achievement and character as maximized within each student's learning environment."
Adele remembers the moment she walked into the halls of Claremore High School and saw the many names of previous Academic All-State recipients, she knew then that was something she too wanted to accomplish. She began to work hard on her personal and academic goals, all aligned with the requirements for Academic All-State recipients - from academic success and excelling in her pursuits to getting into a good college. Despite this being a long-time goal for her, she was still shocked when she was selected, “my jaw dropped, and it felt like time stopped. I opened my package alone to take in the moment before sharing the news with my friends and family. I was most excited to have my name on the wall.”
Adele made it a goal to find programs and extra-curriculars that aligned with her passions and interests while still challenging herself. She is not only a bright scholar but also a talented artist, and she holds many officer positions in clubs and student-led associations such as the Technology Student Association (TSA) and SkillsUSA. Her involvement in these programs and community service projects are among the most rewarding parts of high school, “In SkillsUSA, we conduct an annual fundraiser to sponsor and serve a meal for Night Light Tulsa. Night Light Tulsa is a nonprofit organization that helps the less fortunate in our community by providing warm meals, toiletries, clothes, books, and other forms of hospitality. I was given the opportunity to serve for the past three years, and I was impacted by connecting with people and hearing their stories. It felt good to give back to the community, and I hope to return and serve soon!”
She has an impressive resume filled with clubs, associations, community service, and school involvement. From being an Oklahoma TSA State Officer for 3 years and SkillsUSA State & School officer for 2 years to Astronomy Club, Christian Club, Academic Team, Freshman Mentor, National Honors Society, and more. She has intentionally been well-rounded and giving back to her school and community. Through these experiences, she has learned about herself and her capabilities, “I’ve learned that I’m a horrible multitasker, which taught me the importance of time management since I’m involved in so many things. I discovered I enjoy serving others through leadership positions and like to help others whenever possible. Staying driven is important, but I learned that overworking myself is exhausting, so I try to recharge whenever possible. Lastly, I learned that I tend to be a “yes-man” thanks to Mrs. Hammack, and it’s okay for me to say no sometimes.”
Adele credits many teachers, principals, and counselors for their impact and support throughout her journey, “Every teacher has helped guide me to my academic success, and I am incredibly grateful! Some notable teachers who went above and beyond to mentor me include Mrs. Steidley, Mrs. Hammack, Ms. Golbek, Mr. Cummings, Mrs. Hoffer, Mrs. Andrews, and Mr. Isenbart. I would also like to highlight my amazing counselor, Mrs. Grace." She thanks her teachers, principals, and counselors for all the encouragement that has allowed her to reach her full potential.
In the fall, Adele Wilson will attend Northwestern University and major in Materials Science and Engineering. She shared, “I plan to use engineering to become a NASA Research Scientist and create sustainable materials for space exploration or public health.” Combining both her passion for engineering and her love for helping others.
Her advice to underclassmen and those who want to achieve this goal is to be true to yourself and not to be discouraged if, at first, you don't succeed. She shares, "Don’t be discouraged if your ACT score doesn’t meet the requirement on your first try. I had to work harder than most to improve my score, but it was worth it! Also, do activities you enjoy instead of getting involved to boost your resume. It’s much more enjoyable if you’re authentic and do things you enjoy ". Adele is an excellent role model and student, she encourages others to find what they are passionate about and pursue their goals.