Clara Wan, valedictorian at Bob Jones High School, soon will enter the University of Alabama at Birmingham in an early admission program for medical school. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Clara Wan owns the valedictorian title for the Class of 2014 at Bob Jones High School.

Wan amassed a GPA of 5.2. Her favorite subjects were advanced-placement courses in government and physics E&M (electricity and magnetism).

She liked government “because we always had very interesting class discussions debating inflammatory issues. Physics E&M made me stretch outside of my comfort zone. Mr. Greg Duvall was an amazing teacher that always encouraged and joked around with us.”

At Bob Jones, Wan participated in Student Government Association, Mu Alpha Theta, Junior Civitan, National Science Honor Society and Physics Club. She served as president of her class and National Honor Society and chaired United Way work.

In addition, she was recognized as a National Merit Finalist, as an exemplary volunteer by Junior Civitan and received the Mayor’s Award for academic excellence as a freshman.

“I also volunteered at Crestwood Medical Center on the surgical recovery floor. The nurses there are wonderful; it was amazing working there,” Wan said.

Swimming is one of Wan’s favorite hobbies. “I used to swim for the Bob Jones Swim Team, but due to a knee problem I was born with, I couldn’t continue,” she said.

She coaches the Sherwood Swim Team and “loves teaching kids how to swim. It’s cool watching kids discover the sport that I loved,” Wan said.

An avid interest in reading probably led to her commitment to writing.  She attended a summer camp for creative writing at Stanford University.

Wan likes to travel with her family and has visited France, Italy, Spain and other countries. Observing the cultures of other locales interests her, along with sampling the different kinds of foods.

Clara’s father, Dr. Qi Wan, has a private practice in Huntsville and her mother, Sarah Qiao, works as the practice’s office manager. Clara has a younger brother, Ethan Wan.

Wan will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham in their Early Medical School Acceptance Program (EMSAP), an eight-year medical program.