National Merit Semifinalist. Athlete. Good Samaritan. There are many ways to describe senior Thomas Conner.

Thomas, born without a radius in his forearm, decided to give back to the hospital that gave him his thumb as a child.

The Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, located in Dallas, specializes in pediatric orthopedics and helping children with conditions such as hand, foot and hip disorders, scoliosis, limb reconstruction and sports medicine.

“They require everybody who comes to wear a mask,” Thomas’ mother, Tracy Conner, said. “But sometimes people show up without them. He’s been making masks that they can give to people who forget to bring them.”

Thomas was able to solicit donations of materials and recruit students from three different school districts to help him make the masks.

“I started by learning to sew so I could make face masks for Kindred Hospice,” Thomas said. “A family friend of ours said they were running low on face masks for patients when the pandemic first hit. Later, we made some masks for Scottish Rite Hospital, which was the hospital that gave me my thumb.”

Thomas’ family describes him as smart, good-humored, and generous.

“He is a very good kid and a pretty great brother,” Clara, Thomas’ twin sister said. “He is very laid back and can seem quiet when you first meet him, but I promise he could easily talk your ear off once you get to know him.”

From a young age, Thomas had a strong vocabulary and could talk when he was only six months old.

“When he was less than two, he could tell stories and make you laugh,” Thomas’ dad said. 

As Thomas grew older, he became aware of how his actions affected the world around him.

“He’s recently started to enjoy community service and helping other people,” his mother said.

About 1.6 million juniors take the PSAT each year, and those who score in the top one percent earn the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist.

“I took the PSAT and got a score of 1460,” Thomas said. He achieved the title of National Merit Semifinalist this year. “I had very little PSAT prep prior to that.”

Through kind words and charitable actions, Thomas Conner has displayed his undying perseverance, his generosity, and his bravery.