Polson home school student named National Merit Scholar

By MICHELLE LOVATO

Lake County Leader

Connor Murphy was named a National Merit Scholar, paving a solid future for his college education.

Murphy will be eligible for a full-ride scholarship to University of Montana or a partial scholarship to the secondary education institution of his choosing, said Connor’s mother, Ann Murphy. Murphy was educated, the old fashioned way: at home.

Murphy was one of 1.5 million students to apply for the scholarship in October 2013 and was the only Montana semi-finalist.

The scholarship program names the top 50,000 students who are judged on a combination of factors related to a preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship qualifying test that measures reading, mathematics and writing skills.

Students were then re-assessed for ability and performance by their high school principals in 2014. That is when another 34,000 commended students were released from the program and the remaining 16,000 continued on to the next round of consideration.

Murphy was notified in September that he was among the final students under consideration for the scholarship. Murphy was then passed through the Advanced Finalist position in February. 

Murphy’s father, Jack Murphy, was a research scientist who held a doctorate in analytical chemistry. He was an inspired thinker who had a full home laboratory that he and his wife developed before Connor was born.

The lab is among a variety of exploration-inspiring activities on the 20-acre property which includes a full trampoline, a zip line, a small working orchard, a fireman’s pole, a host of small animals, a sprawling hand-built log home, a view of Flathead Lake and an alpine backdrop. 

Murphy spent most of his senior year in high school attending Flathead Valley Community College’s fuels program, something he is passionate about pursuing. Murphy’s college work is dedicated to exploring different ways to reduce the corrosion rate of aluminum because scientists already know that aluminum-powered batteries possess the potential to become a viable future fuel source.

A lifetime home school student, Murphy’s day begins with chores, family breakfast, singing and worship time with family and academics.

Murphy’s life took a decidedly religious turn when he was in eighth grade when he struggled to play soccer at Mission Valley Christian Academy.

“I was on the soccer team and was having a hard time with conditioning and playing and that sort of thing,” he said. I wanted to quit, but my mom asked me to stay on the team.”

Even though Murphy did not want to continue playing soccer, he took his mother’s advice seriously.

Murphy said that night he had a serious talk with God.

“I said ‘I don’t want to be able to do this without your help,’” he said.

“And then I went back to play soccer and it was much more fun.

It shaped how he did things for the rest of his life.

“I made that relationship personal then,” he said. “If I’m not doing it for God, I’m not going to do it.”