Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart proudly announces that one of its senior class members has joined an elite group by receiving a highly prestigious cash award from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Gianna Keuer is among the 2,500 merit scholars nationwide who received a scholarship this year. These awards can be spent at any regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. Keuer plans to attend Bowdoin College – a “historic and selective” institution in Maine – majoring in government and legal studies.

The $2,500 awards announced on May 8 are financed from the corporation's funds, some of which come from donations or from business and company foundations that provide grants rather than administrative fees. National Merit Scholarship winners are chosen by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors based on application materials from the students and their schools.

“We at Woodlands Academy are so proud of Gianna,” said Head of School Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D. “The National Merit Scholarship is awarded to a select group of students who demonstrate outstanding potential and intellectual prowess. Gianna’s inclusion in this select group speaks volumes about her talents and perseverance. Her success is not only a reflection on her dedication to academic pursuits, but also serves as an inspiration to the entire Woodlands Academy community.”

Earlier this school year, Keuer was named a National Merit Semifinalist, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors. She then advanced to the Finalist round in February based on her academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

Nearly 7,000 seniors will have been awarded approximately $26 million worth of scholarships by the end of this year's National Merit Scholarship program. The 2024 competition began during the last school year, with more than 1.5 million juniors taking the PSAT exam. The resultant nationwide pool of semifinalists included the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Each Semifinalist had to have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirmed the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Evanston-based National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a non-profit organization that operates without government assistance. It was established in 1955 to honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.

[Photo: Keuer is pictured with Head of School Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D., and Principal Rocco Gargiulo, following her designation as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist in February.]