Erin Washington has been named as a National Merit Achievement Finalist. Washington is a senior at Hazel Green High School. (CONTRIBUTED)

HAZEL GREEN – Erin Washington, a senior at Hazel Green High School, has been selected as a National Merit Achievement Finalist.

Last September, the National Achievement Scholarship Program determined 1,600 semifinalists. Washington now is among the students who have met all requirements to advance to finalist standing. Program officials will consider all finalists for National Achievement Scholarships this year.

Learning the news, Washington “felt excited, blessed and extremely grateful. It was one of those moments when I could relax and enjoy the reward of the hard work I had put into gaining an achievement.”

On the ACT, she scored 32. On the SAT, her score was 2160. Washington frequently earned her class’ highest grade average.

Washington has completed numerous advanced-placement courses, including U.S. history, chemistry, English language and composition, English Literature, Calculus AB, along with eight preliminary-AP courses.

“My favorite subject is chemistry. I enjoy performing lab experiments and racking my brain to understand a new, complex chemistry concept or to calculate the answer to a challenging chemistry problem,” Washington said.

She is National Honor Society president and participates with Spanish Honor Society, Trojan Ambassadors and tutors for chemistry and intermediate school grades. In other honors, Washington is a National Merit Semi-Finalist and earned awards for DAR Good Citizen, AP Scholar and Delta Sigma Theta Scholastic Achievement.

In addition, Washington has participated as a delegate to several state citizenship conferences. She was named “Most Improved Player” in junior varsity basketball.

Along with tutoring, she volunteers in her church’s nursery. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved babies. It’s a treat to care for them, build bonds and watch them grow,” Washington said.

Her parents are David and Vicki Washington. He is an engineering manager at The Boeing Company. She is church administrator at New Beginnings Christian Church. The Washingtons live in Meridianville.

Since she was about 10 years old, she has studied piano and involved with praise dancing at her church. She enjoys reading, movies and baking.

Washington will major in chemistry in college.