MPS Announces 13 National Merit Semifinalists | News

Montgomery, AL —The number 13, despite its reputation, is pretty lucky for Loveless Academic Magnet Program High, who had that number of students join the ranks of the nation’s top students to be named National Merit Semifinalists by the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Program today.  The news coincided with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s release of the names of semifinalists nationwide.

LAMP students Audrey S. Ang, Rachel L. Berube, Madison N. Brand, Junhi Chang, Christopher E. Dudley, Akhil C. Kaushik, Sarah J. Kim, Hyung R. Lee, Daniel H. Luehrs, David S. Mesina, Ravi S., Rajendra, Sungwoo Ryoo, and Bryful A. Sun are now among 16,000 students who can claim the Merit Semifinalist distinction out of a pool of 1.5 million who applied for the program. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors and are the highest scoring program entrants in each state. These students will now advance in the competition and will have the opportunity to compete for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $32 million, that will be offered next spring.

“The road to becoming a National Merit Semifinalist, and then Finalist, is highly competitive, so this is a significant accomplishment for our students,” said MPS Superintendent Barbara Thompson. “For the past several years, the district has had many students receive this national distinction. I think it shows that having high expectations for performance and increasing rigor in our curriculum, makes a difference. LAMP teachers, staff, and parents have done an outstanding job. I am very proud of what they have achieved.”

High achievement has been a hallmark of LAMP since its inception. Last year, 10 students were named Merit Semifinalists, and the year before, eight. In May 2012 Loveless was ranked number one in the state, 32 on the list of the nation’s top 500 high schools, and eighth best magnet school in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

LAMP Principal Mary George Jester said the achievement is indicative of the hard work and commitment to academic excellence by students, teachers and parents.

“We work very hard to prepare compassionate, educated individuals who are capable of independent thinking and innovative ideas, and it’s wonderful to see that work acknowledged nationally,” said Jester.  “Our curriculum challenges students in ways that prepare them not only for the most rigorous college programs, but also for productive lives.”

Information Source: MPS