Local students win National Merit scholarships

Since the spring, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced recent high school graduates who earned scholarships through the corporation and individual colleges and universities.

On May 11, National Merit Scholarship winners who received $2,500 directly from the National Merit Scholarship fund were announced. They were chosen from a talented pool of more than 15,000 finalists selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors from each state.

Finalists have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

The following students from Archdiocese of New Orleans schools received scholarships:

James W. Dubreuil of Covington, St. Paul’s School (who plans to study economics); Olivia H. Finch of Metairie, Academy of the Sacred Heart (aerospace engineering); Elizabeth R. Mobley of Metairie, St. Mary’s Dominican High School (mathematics); Matthew J. Busenlener of New Orleans, Jesuit High School (neuroscience); Catherine A. Tifft of New Orleans, Mount Carmel Academy (psychology); Kaden N. Oqueli-White of Slidell, Jesuit High School (astrophysics).

On June 1, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) additionally announced more than 2,600 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities who will attend their school. The scholarship recipients from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans were:

William R. Ditta of Covington, St. Paul’s School (National Merit Tulane University Scholarship, medicine); Carter M. Murphy of Covington, St. Paul’s School (National Merit Louisiana Tech University Scholarship, medicine); Preston T. Orgeron of Covington, St. Paul’s School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, engineering); Nicholas M. Nobile of Destrehan, Jesuit High School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, medicine).

Kate D. Tomeny of Harahan, Mount Carmel Academy (National Merit Northeastern University Scholarship, biomedical engineering); Gabriel J. Sacasa of Kenner, Jesuit High School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, psychology); Jesse M. Bertucci of Madisonville, Archbishop Hannan High School (National Merit Louisiana Tech University Scholarship, engineering).

Daniel M. Whalen of Mandeville, St. Paul’s School (National Merit University of Mississippi Scholarship, pharmacy); Brian J. Fish Jr. of Metairie, Jesuit High School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, anesthesiology); Matthew M. Lindner of Metairie, Brother Martin High School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, aerospace engineering); Taylor G. Trepagnier of Metairie, Jesuit High School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, business management); and Ava C. Bowen of New Orleans, Mount Carmel Academy (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, chemistry).

On July 11, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced over 1,200 additional winners of National Merit Scholarships of between $500-$2,500 financed by colleges and universities for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. Their career path is mentioned after their name.

Recipients from Archdiocese of New Orleans Catholic schools were:

Gage Lowell Graham of Covington, St. Paul’s School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, dentistry); Conlan B. Pausina of Covington, Jesuit High School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, software engineering); Brody B. Reina of Covington, St. Paul’s School (National Merit Davidson College Scholarship, economics); Maeve E. Storm of Gretna, St. Mary’s Dominican High School (National Merit Florida State University, environmental engineering); Lorraine L. Steigner of Houma, Mount Carmel Academy (National Merit Tulane University Scholarship, science/research).

Shreyash Singh of Kenner, Jesuit High School (National Merit Vanderbilt University Scholarship, computer science); Christian A. Radman of Madisonville, Archbishop Hannan High School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, computer engineering); Kason J. Shaw of Madisonville, St. Paul’s School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, civil engineering); Thomas A. Cazenavette of Mandeville, St. Paul’s School (National Merit University of Southern Mississippi Scholarship, psychology).

Andrew N. Hightower of Mandeville, St. Paul’s School (National Merit University of Mississippi Scholarship, pharmacy); Landin M. Sanborn of Meraux, Brother Martin High School (National Merit Louisiana State University Scholarship, mathematics); Louis M. Bercaw of Metairie, Jesuit High School (National Merit University of Alabama Scholarship, biochemistry); Juliette L. Camenzuli of Metairie, Academy of the Sacred Heart (National Merit Louisiana State University Scholarship, dentistry); Luc O. Carriere of Metairie, Jesuit High School (National Merit Fordham University Scholarship, mathematics).

Samuel P. Becker of New Orleans, De La Salle High School (National Merit Louisiana State University Scholarship, architecture); Collin M. Pelitere of New Orleans, Jesuit High School (National Merit Vanderbilt University Scholarship, business); Anne E. Carr of River Ridge, St. Mary’s Dominican High School (National Merit Villanova University Scholarship, accounting); and Matthew A. Vuong of River Ridge, Jesuit High School (National Merit Tulane University Scholarship, biomedical engineering).