Twenty Tucson-area teens have been named winners of college-sponsored National Merit scholarships.
The awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. The winners, by school, are:
- Basis Oro Valley:
- Trevor R. Sharp
- β National Merit Arizona State University Scholarship.
- Basis Tucson North:
- Paige N. Pearcy
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship.
- Catalina Foothills High School:
- Vincent H. Bai
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Amber Marina Fox
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Chloe T. Harwood
- β National Merit University of Oklahoma Scholarship;
- Neil C. Jha
- β National Merit Arizona State University Scholarship;
- Amy Liu
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Lucas A. Petersen
- β National Merit Arizona State University Scholarship.
- Desert Christian High School:
- John R. Martin
- β National Merit University of Oklahoma Scholarship.
- Sonoran Science Academy Tucson:
- David R. Wang
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship.
- University High School:
- Ann M. Brunton
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Alan Cheng
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Mary Grace Labus
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Natalie Leonard
- β National Merit University of Chicago Scholarship;
- Josephine May Maxwell
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Lauren Rochelle Phillips
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Samuel C. Slonaker
- - National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Jayasangeetha Thanikachalam
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship;
- Nathaniel J. Whitthorne
- β National Merit University of Arizona Scholarship.
- Home school:
- Crystal A. Gillette
- β National Merit University of Oklahoma Scholarship.
Students took the Preliminary SAT as an initial screener before approximately 16,000 semifinalists were named. The semifinalists were the highest-scoring program entrants in each state.
To become finalists, students had to complete a detailed scholarship application showing an outstanding academic record and be endorsed and recommended by a high school official.
They also had to take the SAT and earn scores that confirmed their performance on the initial qualifying test.
About 15,000 students were named finalists and about half were chosen to receive National Merit scholarships.
An additional group of National Merit scholars will be announced in July.
