National Merit Scholarship Program identifies 13 PYLUSD students as Finalists

Thirteen students from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD), representing all four comprehensive high schools, have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

These students are among the top 0.5 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. Here they are by school:

Valencia High School (8)

Adila Ahmed
Rachel Bang
Andrea Chen
Hailey Choe
Frank Kim
Nathan Kim
Stephen Min
Janani Prabaharan

Yorba Linda High School (3)

Adrian Lindell
Catherine Kang
Elina Savalia

El Dorado High School (1)
Colby Bladow

Esperanza High School (1)
Brian Nguyen

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!