Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart proudly announces that one of its senior class members continues to advance in her pursuit of a highly prestigious scholarship award. Anne Kelly is among the approximately 15,000 U.S. high school seniors achieving Finalist status in the 68^th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. This group of academically talented students will compete for about 7,250 National Merit® scholarships worth nearly $28 million.

Kelly advanced to the Finalist’s round based on her academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

“I am delighted to celebrate Anne Kelly’s academic accomplishment as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist,” Head of School Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D., said. “With a spirit of humility and grace, Anne’s academic accomplishments are but one of the exceptional contributions she has made to Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart Class of 2023. A leader among her peers, Anne is a member of the Investment Club, Math Club, STEM Club and student government. We are so very proud of her exceptional accomplishments.”

Following her Woodlands Academy graduation, Kelly will be attending the University of Notre Dame. She was accepted early and has committed to enroll there in the fall.

The 2023 National Merit Scholarship competition began during the last school year, with more than 1.5 million juniors taking a preliminary exam. The resultant nationwide pool of more than 16,000 semi-finalists included the highest-scoring entrants in each state. In order to advance, each semi-finalist had to be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Three types of scholarships will be awarded to nearly half of the Finalists this spring. National Merit^® $2,500 Scholarships are given out on a state-representational basis. In addition, corporations and business organizations will provide about 950 Merit scholarships to finalists who meet their specific criteria. And about 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 Merit Scholarship awards to finalists attending the sponsoring institution.

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.

Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic day-and-boarding, college-preparatory school for young women of all faiths in grades nine through 12. Founded in Chicago in 1858 and located in Lake Forest since 1904, it’s part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries on six continents. 

Photo caption: 

Woodlands Academy senior Anne Kelly, pictured here with Head of School Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D., and Principal Rocco Gargiulo, is among the National Merit Scholarship Finalists still in the competition for scholarships to be awarded this spring.