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FEATURES (This article, reprinted with permission, featuring Robert Moore, class of 2008 and recipient of this year's William E. L. Young Memorial Service Award presented by the Alumni Assn., appeared in Bexley News on July 23, 2008) 8/4/08 Moore going to Denison as a National Merit scholarBy NICHOLAS A. LA TORRE  Bexley
High School alumnus Robert Moore will head to Denison University in
the fall thanks to a National Merit Scholarship.Because Moore was named a National Merit scholar, he became eligible for various scholarships, which will ease the financial burden of attending the $46,000 a year school. He will join the communications department in the fall. "I can't pay for that out of pocket," Moore said. "If it wasn't for the National Merit Scholarship, I wouldn't be going to the school I'm going to." Moore said he has always been an advocate for "shaking things up." With the help of his classmates and parents, he helped to found the Bexley Speech and Debate team after the speech class at Bexley had been canceled. He said the course has been helping students prepare for life in the real world. "You learn communications skills you'll have for the rest of your life," Moore said. "Most people are more afraid of public speaking than dying." Going beyond just preparing for college, Moore said he used extracurricular activities as a way to truly build upon his education. "I don't think colleges look at extracurricular activities as much as people tell you they do," Moore said. "You get as much out of them as you put in. "Kids can be involved in an organization, put their hearts into it and get so much more out of it," Moore added. In addition to being a part of the debate team, Moore held the position of opinion editor for the school newspaper, The Torch, and was the chapter president for the Junior Statesmen of America. "If you really want to get into things, all it takes is saying 'I can do this,' " Moore said. "People need to be able to see it's not that hard to make an imprint on their community and make a change for the better." He said a curious and critical nature has made him question the administration of organizations at times and he suggests his fellow students do the same. "I have a problem with how things are run," Moore said. "I urge everyone involved in an organization to look at its mission and to make sure they don't see the organization as their organization but everyone's organization. "Don't be afraid to shake things up a little bit," Moore added. He used that value to work with the American Legion and put flags in every classroom at Bexley after asking why the students didn't say the Pledge of Allegiance. Before classes officially start for Moore, he will head off to Philadelphia for the Denison Experience in Urban Culture and Expression. Once there, he will work with 25 other first-year students and meet with visual and performance artists to talk about the role the arts play in social change. He said he thanks his parents for instilling the drive he has today. "(My parents) instilled the attitude of if you can think it, do it," Moore said. "What holds most people back is the thought that they can't. "You're never going to win if you're saying 'I can't,' " Moore added. "(My parents) instilled the attitude of if you can think it, do it, What holds most people back is the thought that they can't." --Robert Moore |
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