Valencia, Yorba Linda students selected as National Merit Finalists

Nine students from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD), representing both Valencia and Yorba Linda high schools, have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

These students are among the top .5 percent of the 1.6 million program entrants in the nation. They will now continue to compete for scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Program, which began in 1955.

Valencia High School (7)

• Ashwin Bhupathy
• Erika Kim
• Erin Kim
• Junil Kim
• Ethan Thio
• Christy Yee
• Amy Yoon

“I am incredibly proud of these standout Tigers and am grateful for their contributions to the school over the past four years,” shard proud principal, Olivia Yaung. “I wish them much success in their post-secondary pursuits.”

Yorba Linda High School (2)

• Shawn Foroushani
• Melody Tang

When asked about Yorba Linda’s National Merit Finalists, principal, Dave Flynn, stated, “Congratulations to our two National Merit Finalists and THANK YOU to their parents for sending YLHS such talented students….Go Mustangs!”

These students were among 16,000 semifinalists named in September recognizing each state’s top students. To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her high school submitted a detailed scholarship application in which they provided information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

All winners of the Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the finalist group based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments throughout their lives without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference. For more information, visit www.nationalmerit.org.

Congratulations, PYLUSD scholars!