By Hayden Sampson

It is often said that children are “to be seen and not heard.” Senior Clara Moffitt is proving them wrong, and in a big way. Clara was just recently numbered among the prestigious group called “18 under 18” sponsored by Junior Achievement.

Junior Achievement is a fantastic organization invested in inspiring youth and helping them become successful in the workplace. Every year, JA sets out to determine the top 18 people that are under the age of 18 that stand out. They look for applicants who are not only great leaders, but they also look for those who are already making an impact on their community. Clara definitely fits the criteria. As president of the Herstory club, she has helped design amazing ways to empower women, as well as support those in need.

The selection process for this award is extremely prestigious. Only 36 semi-finalists are selected, and those are narrowed down to 18 through a rigorous interview process. Having been placed among these young entrepreneurs, the rewards are going to be very helpful to Clara for the next few years. Clara says, “It’s impactful because Junior Achievement Arizona is very connected with Arizona businesses.”

In addition to recognition of a fantastic achievement wherever she goes, Clara also received a cash prize as well as free Chick-fil-A for a year and other gift cards. Not many people are selected for this award, so it is a big deal for Tempe Prep to have someone be nominated from our small school.

Clara is leading a long line of seniors this year that are breaking boundaries and gaining new scholarships and opportunities that few TPA alumni have achieved. Clara is a perfect example of one of our students who works hard and creates chances for herself to do great things. Clara encourages others to look for opportunities like this, saying, “It just takes someone to nominate you, and you never know what could happen. I definitely encourage everyone to look into things like this.”

Clara will be attending the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Not only will she be attending a top tier Ivy League university, but she has been accepted into the even more elite Huntsman program. Being one of the 50 people selected for this will allow her to get a dual degree in economics and international relations. With all this going on, Clara states, “I’m really honored to be a part of this group. All of the other youth are just so spectacular and have created so many cool ideas. I was really thankful to be numbered as one of them.”

We can look to Clara as a role model for going out and reaching for the stars. She has taught us that with hard work, anything is possible.