MONTEREY — Boxes of shirts, pants and hoodies await families in need at Monterey High School thanks to Marshall Lipsey and his National Beta Club peers.

Lipsey, 17, is president of the high school’s club and spearheaded a fundraising campaign this year to get extra uniforms available for anyone who needs them.

“We used to have a few things in the guidance office that people could come in and get if they needed it, but we decided we would amass more clothes and see if we could give them away to people who needed them,” Lipsey said. “They’re all free, so anyone can just come in and get what they need.”

Apart from the handful of students who’ve gotten the clothes because of a wardrobe malfunction or cafeteria spill, Lipsey said seeing one foster mother gather up clothes a few weeks ago made the project worthwhile.

“We would get those kids who had mud on their pants come in and get another pair, but there was a lady with foster kids who came in and got a bunch of clothes for those kids,” Lipsey said. “It feels good to be able to give back to those in need.”

Lipsey’s Beta Club participation, however, only scratches the surfaces of the senior’s involvement and participation at his school.

Lipsey is tied for the top student in his class and hopes to remain in that spot until graduation in May.

“I’m hoping to be valedictorian at that point,” Lipsey said. “I’m tied with my friend for the top spot, but we don’t really talk about that a lot.”

Even if Lispey doesn’t leave the school at the top of his class, the Monterey native hopes to have 24 college credits under his belt by the time he receives a high-school diploma.

Lipsey is enrolled in two advanced placement classes and two dual enrollment classes that could equal multiple college credits at the end of the year.

The advanced placement program gives high-school students the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses at their school. The students take a test at the end of the year to determine if they can receive college credits.

“I like those classes because they challenge me, but it’s also nice to have the credits,” Lipsey said. “My parents are happy about that.”

Lipsey’s score of 31 on the ACT test also makes him eligible for the top tier of funding through the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, or TOPS, which offers state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend Louisiana public colleges and universities or other community and technical colleges in the state.

“I plan on going to LSU for engineering, but I’m not sure what exactly I want to do in engineering yet,” Lipsey said. “I want to end up owning a company at some point making new technological things and improving old technology to move forward.”

Before Lipsey sets his sights on Baton Rouge, he said graduating from Monterey will be the next biggest event in his life.

“You get to make a lot of good friends here that last a lifetime,” Lipsey said. “I really like this place, but I will be glad to leave for a little bit to take a breather.

“I will miss a lot of this because we are a very close-knit town, and we all know each other.”

Lipsey is the son of Will and Shannon Lipsey of Monterey.