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NATCHEZ — Natchez Early College Academy senior Zelik Q. Patten has been selected to be a member of the esteemed National Society of High School Scholars.

The Society recognizes top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment.

Patten plans to graduate from high school this summer with both his high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree from Copiah Lincoln Community College.

He then plans to pursue a four-year degree in computer science.

While not fully decided on a college, Patten said Louisiana State University is on top of his list.

Formed in 2002 by James W. Lewis and Claes Nobel, member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, the National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and helps to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving students through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study, and peer networks. Currently, there are more than 1,700,000 members in over 170 countries.

“On behalf of NSHSS and our co-founder Claes Nobel, a member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, I am honored to recognize the hard work, passion and commitment that Zelik has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence,” said NSHSS Co-founder and President James W. Lewis. “Zelik is now a member of a unique community of scholars — a community that represents our very best hope for the future.

“We are proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development. We help students like Zelik build on their academic success by connecting them with learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for college and meaningful careers.”

NSHSS members automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. Each step along the way from high school to college to career, NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions.

Patten sees himself starting a business one day advancing new technologies such as robot vacuums, he said.

“I’ve always been good with technology and wanted to deal with stuff like that, but my cousins in that field influenced me. They encouraged me,” Patten said.

Patten is also a member of the National Beta Club, which in February traveled to a convention in Biloxi. He and his Beta Club team placed in a robotics competition where he programmed and helped build a robot, he said.

“All of us worked on building it and putting it together but while they were building the actual body I was working on the technical part of it.”

Patten’s biggest role models are his parents Aaron and Linda Patten and his late grandmothers, Cynthia Barfield and Ida Bridgeman, he said.

“My grandma used to call me a walking book,” he said. “It gave me motivation to keep doing well to make them proud.”

Linda Patten said Zelik’s two older brothers also challenged him to do well in school.

“When he was younger he would say he wanted to challenge his brothers,” she said. “They’d received full academic scholarships and one graduated early and he wanted to do better than them.”

Patten said he scored a 31 super score on his last ACT with a 36 in reading, his best subject area, he said.

“Reading has always been the easiest for me. I like to read a lot of mythology, like Percy Jackson and things like that,” Patten said.

His other hobbies include basketball and playing video games, he said.

For more information about the National Society of High School Scholars, visit www.nshss.org.