Five Broken Arrow High School seniors previously named National Merit Semifinalists have advanced to National Merit Finalist status in the 53rd Annual National Merit Scholarship program. They are: Sarah Bennett, Robert Flippo, Maranda Guinn, William McIntosh and Brent Oliver.
To become a National Merit Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an academic record of very high performance, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test or PSAT taken as a high school junior with a score in the top two percent in the nation.
In addition, the Semifinalist and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self-descriptive essay and information about the Semi-Finalist’s participation in leadership in school and community activities.
Approximately 15,000 semifinalists advance to the finalist level and it is from this group that all Merit Scholarship winners will be chosen. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) notifies approximately 8,200 Finalists that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award. Awards in 2008 are expected to total more than $30 million.
Merit Scholarship awards are of three types:
National Merit $2500 Scholarships
Every Finalist including the eight from Broken Arrow will compete for these single payment scholarships, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans.
Corporate-sponsored
Merit Scholarship Awards
Corporate sponsors designate their awards for children of their employees or members, for residents of a community where a company has operations, or for Finalists with career plans the sponsor wishes to encourage. These scholarships may either be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.
College-sponsored
Merit Scholarship Awards
Officials of each sponsor college select winners of their awards from Finalists who have been accepted for admission and have informed NMSC by the published deadlines that the sponsor college or university is their first choice. These awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study.
“These students’ teachers and administrators at the senior high and throughout the school district are so proud of this exceptional accomplishment for these students, who are all very deserving of this stellar academic achievement,” says BAHS Principal Rob Armstrong.
Sarah Bennett is the daughter of John and Judith Bennett. Sarah moved to Broken Arrow when she was in middle school and attended Centennial Middle School and North Intermediate before BAHS.
Robert Flippo is the son of Roger and Maryanne Flippo. Robert attended Spring Creek Elementary, Childers Middle School, and South Intermediate before BAHS.
Maranda Guinn is the daughter of Kevin and Mary Guinn. Maranda first became a BAPS student at Haskell Middle School. She then attended North Intermediate before BAHS.
William McIntosh is the son of William and Susan McIntosh. William attended Indian Springs Elementary, Wolf Creek Elementary, Oliver Middle School, and South Intermediate before BAHS.
Brent Oliver is the son of Michael and Sharon Oliver. Brent attended Spring Creek Elementary, Childers Middle School, and South Intermediate before BAHS.
