MADISON – Ada Chaeli van der Zijp-Tan of Madison has earned the honor of University of South Alabama Board of Trustees Scholar for the 2017-2018 academic year.

The USA Board of Trustees Scholarship program recognizes the most academically talented student in each incoming freshman class. ‘Ady,’ as she’s known to friends, graduated from Bob Jones High School with a 5.16 weighted GPA.

USA officials announced Ady’s selection at the trustees’ meeting on Sept. 8.

“USA representatives specifically mentioned that Ady came from Bob Jones High School. The chairman pointed out that they are thrilled to be able to get their student from one of the best high schools in Alabama — Bob Jones,” Maribel said.

The trustees’ honor is based on ACT/SAT score and, if needed, GPA, followed by rigor of high school coursework.

Ady registered a 34 composite ACT score, which is in the top one percent of all ACT test takers. She is majoring in biomedical sciences and wants to become a physician.

“I was very impressed with USA when I visited the campus in 2013 in my freshman high school year. I also knew that I wanted to become a physician since I was in middle school and that I wanted to attend an in-state university,” Ady said. “I chose USA from among other colleges because USA offers a quality medical graduate school program, as well as a variety of undergrad programs.”

At USA, Ady is in USA College of Medicine’s Early Acceptance Program, along with Freshman Leadership Scholars and Honors College. “USA offered many opportunities to me with all three programs, lots of scholarships and a very nurturing learning community,” Ady said.

“When I received the news that I was chosen to receive this scholarship, I was overjoyed. I feel very honored to be recognized for my hard work as this year’s recipient of the USA Board of Trustees scholarship,” Ady said.

At Bob Jones, Ady was active with Health Occupations Students of America, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and National Honor Society. At USA, she has received a Presidential Scholarship, Freshman Leadership Scholarship and Crampton Harris Trust Scholarship.

Ady’s parents, Jeroen van der Zijp and Maribel Tan van der Zijp, are first-generation immigrants. Jeroen is from the Netherlands, and Maribel is Chinese from the Philippines.

The USA Board of Trustees Scholarship Program was established in 2014.