Many family moves don't slow Sullivan girl

Many family moves haven't kept 14-year-old Claire Rembecki from succeeding in school, church and community. In fact, they may have provided some impetus for her success.

Claire is an 8th grader at St. Anthony's Catholic School in Sullivan. She was one of the students named last month as a 2008 Gateway Young Achiever of the Year.

Claire Rembecki

One incident from Claire's first year at St. Anthony's will give an indication of what the contest judges saw that made them select her as one of 13 Young Achievers.

In March, 2007, Claire and her family moved to Sullivan. This was the latest in several moves during her father's military career. Now, Dr. Roger Rembecki is in private practice at St. Louis' Missouri Baptist Hospital.

But, just two months after starting at St. Anthony's, Claire was elected by her fellow students to be vice-president of the 7th grade class.

Claire admits that she has been sad each time the family moves but is determined to get involved in each of her new hometowns.

"It's hard moving from a big school where I had friends to a smaller school. But, I just know that eventually everything is going to be okay. The new experience won't be bad forever," she said.

Claire was born in El Paso, TX. Her latest move was from Lebanon, MO.

She said she didn't run into many problems of being a new person coming into a small town. She said there seem to be more newcomers in Sullivan than in some other places.

But, then, she also knows she has to work hard at being accepted. She's done it several times before.

(Young Saint Louis.com has been writing about area Young Achievers since 2002. In addition to a May story announcing each year's winners, YSL.com does individual profiles of the elementary and middle school winners in the following months.

(This is the first of the profiles for the 2008 winners. To read this year's general story, click here. Also, for more on the YA program, visit www.youngachievers.us.)

One of the methods Claire uses to get established in a new community is getting involved quickly in school, at her church and in a wide range of extra-curricular and volunteer activities.

In addition to her vice-presidency at St. Anthony's, she also has made the honor roll, won a state finalist medal for ACT test score and was picked for the Duke University's TIP (Talented Identification Program) organization.

She also has been a tutor for fellow students ever since 1st grade. She's been a student council representative since 4th grade.

Claire as "the evil hare" at drama camp

Claire serves as both a reader and altar server in church services. She also helps set up and serve church breakfasts. She also sings during services.

Last summer, she attended both drama and science camps at East Central College in nearby Union, MO. At drama camp, she starred as "the evil hare" in a comedy adaptation of Aesop's classic tale of the race between the rabbit and tortoise.

At her former school, Claire also was on a Lego League robotics team and was a member of an "improv troupe" that put on lots of shows for school kids. She was also named a school TV anchor to read announcements over the school intercom system.

In Sullivan, she helps twice a week as an assistant for an adult education computer class for older people. She said a lot of the older people come to classes to learn how to operate a computer given to them by their children.

Claire said the older people have the most trouble "with remembering all the little tools available to help them operate the newer computers."

One of the things she hasn't gotten involved in yet in Sullivan is dance. She was a regular winner of school dance awards and was picked to be a teacher at the School for Performing Arts in Lebanon.

"I'm going to get back into dance this summer," she said. Her favorite type of dance is tap.

Another position she fills in the family is as "official babysitter" for her four younger siblings. The one brother and three sisters range in age from 12 to five.

Asked if they take advice from their older sister, Claire said, "Sometimes."

She plans to attend St. Francis Borgia High School next year. Claire said her school leadership and volunteer positions help her prepare for college and her career.

"I want to be involved in politics or in journalism," she said. If she works in journalism, she said she'd like to be a news anchor.

In a nomination letter for the Young Achievers competition, teacher Barbara Brendel at St. Anthony's School endorsed Claire's leadership qualities.

She said, "Claire has done a wonderful job as our Student Council Vice President and is helpful to the younger class representatives. She shows a gift for communicating with young people."