Georgetown High School seniors Emily Crosby and Justin Smalls certainly fit a dictionary definition of scholar: a learned person.

Crosby right now is number one in her class, and Smalls isn’t very far behind her.

Both have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Crosby is a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist.

Smalls is a semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, a program to recognize 1,600 black American high school seniors.

These two students take a number of AP and Honors classes together. They’ve known each other since ninth grade.

And, each was voted the most intelligent student — guy and girl — in the senior class.

Justin Smalls

Smalls is president of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and is a member of DECA and SOS. This summer he placed fifth in a national competition in California. Dr. Mike Cafaro, GHS principal, was with him on that trip.

His project was on business law. Being an intern with Jack Scoville, a local attorney and member of Georgetown City Council, may have given him a bit of an edge in the exam that made up a significant portion of the competition.

Smalls lives with his mother Cerise Smalls and 6-year-old brother Tyler Smalls.

“You wouldn’t forget him. He has a lot more energy than I do,” Justin joked.

Right now, he’s leaning towards Davidson College. But, he’s also looking at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University.

Emily Crosby

Lane Crosby home-schooled her children, Emily and Drew, 18, in their younger grades.

Their dad is Tom Crosby, a doctor in Georgetown.

Emily Crosby takes the same classes as Smalls.

She’s in the National Art Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, a math honor society, and is president of the National Honor Society. She’s been in these groups for two years.

She plays the piano and violin.

Over the past four years she’s played on the varsity soccer team at GHS, and is captain of the team.

She’s also a competitive horsewoman, “eventing” on a national level for the past three years. Those are usually held in Kentucky or Virginia.

At Indiantown Presbyterian Church, she’s a member of the youth group.

For college, Crosby plans to attend either Furman or Duke University. She’s planning a double-major in biology and music.

“They’re both something I love. I can get a job (in either area) and do something with it.”

What’s it mean?

“It’s such a good feeling to know my peers are proud of me, are happy for me,” Smalls said. “It’s gratifying to know hard work won’t go unnoticed.”

“I’m just really proud to represent Georgetown for this award,” Crosby said.

There are 12 to 15 students at the Governor’s School, and a bunch from the upstate who are also semifinalists. “I’m happy to represent a small school like Georgetown,” she said.

“The scholarship itself isn’t that much,” Smalls said, but it is already leading to a lot of offers. “It’s unbelievable,” he said.

Like Smalls and the achievement program, the NMSF award is only about $1,000, Crosby said. “But, being a National Merit Semifinalist opens a lot of doors to other scholarships.”

“My mom is proud of me,” Smalls said. “She sacrificed a lot. I’m happy for her moreso than for myself.”

“It’s a way of thanking her for all she sacrificed to put me in this position,” he said.

For Crosby, her parents “are really proud of me. They said they knew I could do it.

“They’ve always supported me, and told me I could do anything if I put my mind to it.”