Badin High School senior Isabella “Bella” Williams has been honored by the College Board National Recognition Program.

Williams has been named a 2020-21 African American Scholar after scoring in the top 2.5 percent nationally of all students who took the PSAT National Merit scholarship test in the fall of 2019 and identify as African American, Hispanic American, Indigenous peoples or attend school in a rural community.

“I’m very honored and happy” to be recognized, Williams said. “I’m proud to be a minority student at Badin. That’s an important part of me.”

“That’s a great and well-deserved recognition for Bella,” BHS Principal Brian Pendergest said. “She’s embraced the Badin experience and certainly made a positive impact in the Class of 2021.”

Williams is a graduate of St. Joseph Consolidated School. She is the daughter of Brian and Jennifer Williams of Hamilton.

At Badin, Bella is extensively involved in Christian Service, including being a member of the board at the Community Meal Center in Hamilton; plays tennis and is a member of the Ambassador Program.

She plans to study Animal Rehabilitation in college with an emphasis on horses.

“I’ve been around horses my whole life,” Williams said. “I like the physical therapy aspect of it.”

Her college interests include the University of Kentucky, the University of Tennessee, Colorado State University and Ohio State University.