Three More APS Graduates Receive National Merit Scholarships

Students awarded college-funded scholarships

 [Albuquerque, NM]— Three more Albuquerque Public Schools graduates have been named winners in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program.

      An additional 1,700 high school graduates from around the country in this final group have won National Merit Scholarships financed by 183 colleges and universities. They join 2,200 other college-sponsored award recipients who were announced in late May. The colleges provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.

      This final group of winners brings the total number of 2015 National Merit Scholars to 7,400.

      The three additional scholarship recipients are:

-          James Donnelly, who graduated from Manzano High School, plans to attend Texas Tech University and study engineering;

-          Amy Swahlan, who graduated from Sandia High, plans to attend the University of New Mexico and also study engineering; and

-          Adam Wood, who graduated from Albuquerque High, plans to attend Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and study journalism.

      “We are very proud of these students and the honor they have received in being awarded these scholarships,” said APS Supt. Dr. Luis Valentino.

      All the winners qualified as semifinalists based on their performance on the 2013 pre-SAT. To advance as a finalist, students must continue to have an outstanding academic record, be recommended by their school principal, and earn high SAT scores during their junior or senior year.

      The students also submitted applications with essays and information about their participation in school and community activities.