National Merit Scholarship local winners announced

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) released
the names of winners in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Approximately 1,000 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 200 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations. Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and were children of their employees. Most awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends of $500 to $10,000 a year. Recipients can use their awards at an accredited U.S. college or university.

Catholic school students awarded corporate-sponsored scholarships included: Ian A. Calamari, Metairie, Jesuit High School, probable career field in computer science, National Merit General Dynamics Scholarship; Jordan T. Lacoste, Metairie, Jesuit High School, probable career in law, National Merit State Farm Companies Foundation Scholarship; Cameron P. Martinez, New Orleans, Jesuit High School, probable English literature major, National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship.

Among the local National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Black American high school seniors who won $2,500 Achievement Scholarships are: Reuben A. Hogan, Harvey, Jesuit High School, probable career field in medicine; Samantha M. Morris, New Orleans, Mount Carmel Academy, probable career field in psychiatry; Lauren V. Barre, Slidell, Ursuline Academy, probable career field of chemical engineering.

These local Catholic school students were selected to receive this $2,500 National Merit Scholarship from among 15,000 finalists judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies: Molly M. Nagele, St. Mary’s Dominican, business management major; Sean E. Stephens, Jesuit High School, engineering major; Katherine E. Nelson, Academy of the Sacred Heart, physical therapy major; Lauren Saunee, Mount Carmel Academy, orthopedics major; and Kevin E. Yokum, Jesuit, electrical engineering major.