Johns Creek Grads Receive $2500 National Merit Scholarships

JOHNS CREEK, GA — The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Wednesday that seven graduating seniors from Johns Creek have been awarded $2,500 scholarships as part of its 2020 program.

The scholarship winners are:

• Alexandra Mary Ames, Chattahoochee High School
  • Probable career field: Law
• Brian Amaro, Chattahoochee High School
  • Probable career field: Earth Science
• Charles Liu, Chattahoochee High School
  • Probable career field: Undecided
• Catherine G. Chen, Johns Creek High School
  • Probable career field: Undecided
    • NATIONAL MERIT SIEMENS SCHOLARSHIP
• Christine L. Cheng, Johns Creek High School
  • Probable career field: Medicine
    • NATIONAL MERIT NORFOLK SOUTHERN SCHOLARSHIP
• Kapish Potula, Northview High School
  • Probable career field: Medicine
• Patrick Wang, Northview High School
  • Probable career field: Medicine

National Merit $2,500 scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state's percentage of the nation's graduating high-school seniors. Georgia has 72 winners out of 2,500 nationwide.

Winners were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high-school counselors who judged information submitted by both finalists and their high schools: academic records, including difficulty of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high-school official.

NMSC finances most of these single-payment National Merit $2,500 Scholarships. Corporations and company foundations that sponsor awards through NMSC also help underwrite these scholarships with grants they provide in lieu of administrative fees. Scholars may use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.