HHS grad Murray earns prestigious science award

  HOULTON, Maine — When a note comes home from school, a parent wonders before even opening the message, what has my child done? For Leisha Murray of Houlton, it wasn’t what her child did, but what she could do.
Houlton High School 2011 graduate Chelsi Murray was nominated for the United States Academic Achievement Academy when she was a second-grader in Saco.
    “My teacher had nominated me,” said Murray. “The Achievement Academy awards efforts both in and out of class combined.”
By Murray’s eighth-grade year, she has earned a 4.0 grade point average for every science class she had taken to that point and she volunteered at the marine science center at the University of New England with the seal rehabilitation program.
“I saw an ad in the paper and called the number to see if I could help,” she recalled. “I was of course laughed at because they were looking for college students. But, they said I could come and do it, too. I loved taking part in several seal release programs and tracking the seals on the computer and satellite for months. It was awesome.”
On a regular basis, Murray would go to the wildlife preserve and volunteer there, too.
“They were really working on the eagle extinction prevention program,” she said. “I loved feeding and exercising the huge birds. I had earned a Maine Conservation Award and a Chewonki Foundation animal preservation award in the fifth and sixth grade.”
In middle school, Murray played on four soccer teams, two softball teams, the basketball team, theatre group, jazz band, concert and symphonic bands, playing both saxophone and violin, along with teaching karate four days a week, while maintaining an all-A average in all classes.
When she became a peer mediator/tutor for middle school and helped kids who struggled with science, Murray’s love of science continued to blossom.
By her eighth-grade year, Murray learned she was the 2007 National Honor Society student/athlete Award winner and by receiving a one percent ranking for the nation, she was featured in the Academic Achievement for Young Scientists yearbook.
When she was nominated for the United States Academic Achievement Academy, she didn’t have a set criteria to follow.
“You don’t know what other students are doing, you just do your own activities,” explained Murray. “You also have to maintain an A in all classes, plus consideration is given to citizenship, leadership, attitude and dependability.”
However, when she was a freshman, she moved from Saco to Houlton.
“I figured my run for the science award would be over since I changed schools,” Murray said.
But, Murray remained enthralled with science, even without the thought of the award.
“I still loved sports, music and science,” she said. “I really got into science fairs and was lucky enough to win. My last science experiment involved biofuels and using chemicals that required a mentor be present. Dawn Dugan was really great to be there — she’s a chemical expert and an amazing scientist — I learned so much and had a blast doing it.”
This year, Murray placed first in the local science fair and took top honors at the state with her biofuels experiment. In 2009, she was first place in chemistry and second place overall at the local science fair and top honors in the state chemistry/forensics category.
In 2008, Murray won the local science fair in the chemistry/forensics division and went on to place third at the state level. Murray’s other awards included honor roll status 1999-2011, the Nicholas Green Good Citizenship Award nomination in 2004, crowned Miss Teen Maine in the Enkosini Wildlife Federation for awareness of circus animals in the rehabilitation foundation of Namibia, Africa in 2005. She received the 2006 Maine Science and Energy Conservation Award and was a state Governor’s Scholar Science Lecture series participant at the state capital 2004-07. Another highlight for Murray was being a participant in the Rotary Exchange Program, as well.
At the end of April, Murray was notified she was a finalist for the national science award.
“Saco had notified them that I moved and they still followed my school and activities up here,” she said. “I didn’t even know that until my senior year. But, I was thrilled when I learned I had been awarded the gold medal for science.”
Not only did Murray receive a gold medal, but the academy also offers college scholarships.
“It is a great motivation to maintain your best grades and stay involved with lots of in-school and community activities and to never stop trying new things. I tried the musical and show choir and never had so much fun. I really love the music here.”
But, the best part of the academic achievement academy award is that even though a teacher recommends a student, it is “totally based on how much discipline and effort you put into it,” said Murray.
“After the recommendation, it’s your responsibility to work hard, study hard, play hard and be willing to help others along your way to achieve their goals, too,” Murray added. “It can’t be interrupted by misguided opinions of others, or even unexpected life changes, it is all about what you make of those changes. Even if you don’t get an award, the study and organizing skills you learn along the way will help in college or a job to help you be successful.”
The achievement academy award continues through secondary education institutes.
“The motivation is still there to do my best,” Murray said. “Individually, each student can be rewarded for their own interests no matter how varied they may be. I think that’s the coolest part of the whole thing. It has fueled my love for science and I plan to continue studying science in physical therapy and therapeutic martial arts/ sports rehabilitation.”
Murray is excited and grateful she said for the achievement academy.
“It is an encouragement to be a well-rounded student and [affords] the opportunity for scholarship based on my own merit, not just a set of criteria tailored to one. Get your kids excited about it. It’s awesome and never too late to start.”