PLYMOUTH — If Francis Wayland Parker could come to Plymouth Regional High School he would be amazed, senior Jade McLaughlin says.

“One new important innovation, the iPad, has recently become available and teachers try to integrate them into their courses. For example, textbooks can be downloaded onto the tablets,” she wrote in the essay that led to her being named September Scholar of the Month.

Her essay noted that Parker — the 19th-century educator for whom the award is named — revolutionized the scope of education, branching off from traditional methods and emphasizing the importance of developing individuals.

In her school, funding for technology has made the difference in reaching more with hands-on learning, she said.

Ranked number-one in her class, McLaughlin is involved in musical groups, both voice and instrument. She is also a soccer player and cross country skier; her spring sport is track.

She said she is interested in studying cellular biology in college.

The Francis Wayland Parker Scholar program is sponsored by the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Union Leader, Lifetouch Studios and the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Northern New England.

Other nominees for September were Bridget Sherwin (Sunapee Middle High School); Shayna Sweezy (Prospect Mountain High School); Kathareeya Tonyai (Conant High School); Samantha Migneault (Alvirne High School); Kristen Wells (Raymond High School); Paul Maravelias (Windham High School); Zachary Waggoner (Campbell High School); Chelsea Colby (Inter-Lakes High School); and Anna Goscinski (Coe-Brown Northwood Academy).

ptracy@unionleader.com