While many high school students take on a particular after-school activity, Sara Waite has decided to take on almost all of them.

Waite’s devotion to both extracurriculars and her studies led to her being named a commended scholar by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Waite, a senior at Cinnaminson High School, is involved on the homecoming committee, prom committee, Interact, National Honor Society, chamber choir, concert choir and the theater program.

Out of all of her extracurricular activities, Waite is the most dedicated to theater.

“The drama club is definitely a big part of my high school life,” Waite said. Waite will be directing the student-run fall play, Almost, Maine, which will premiere in December.

Out of 1.5 million students who entered, Waite made the cut of 34,000 who were named commended scholars. While Waite did not make the cut of students who will receive scholarships, she will be able to include her status as a commended scholar on college applications.

Students qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and placing in the top 15 percent.

With so many things on her agenda, things can get hectic for Waite at times. However, she’s learned how to organize her schedule well enough so she has time for everything.

“It’s good time management,” Waite said. “You have to know what’s going on ahead of time, so I have everything written down.”

Cinnaminson High School principal Darlene Llewelyn is proud that a hometown student stood out so much.

“It’s always nice to have a commended scholar,” Llewelyn said. “She’s one of those kids involved in everything. She’s a real well-rounded academic student.”

Waite plans to major in musical theater at college in hopes of becoming an actress. She has several colleges she’s interested in, but she’s still visiting and has not yet decided where she will attend.

With the end of a busy high school career and the start of an even busier college career on the horizon, Waite is feeling a mix of emotions heading into her final months as a high school student.

“It’s exciting. It’s nerve wracking,” Waite said. “We’re all graduating. It’s weird.”

To learn more about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, visit the website.