Two UCS grads earn additional national merit scholarships

Two Utica Community Schools seniors are among 3,500 students in the nation and two of only 78 in Michigan to earn a college-based scholarship through the National Merit Scholarship program.

Megan Botkin and Katelynn Paluch, of the Utica Academy for International Studies, earned National Merit Scholarships grants financed by U.S. colleges and universities.

Botkin received a scholarship Purdue University to study engineering and Paluch earned an award from Hope College to study medicine.

Both Botkin and Paluch are Class of 2019 valedictorians, IB Full Diploma candidates, UCS Advanced Placement scholars, members of the National Honor Society and are candidates for a UCS Seal of Global Language.

Students were offered scholarships between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study through National Merit programs funded by colleges and universities.

Students initially qualify for the Merit program by being among the top one percent of students in the country taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

This year, the Utica Community Schools had nine National Merit Scholars who were named finalists for eligible scholarships. Scholars represent the top one percent of all U.S. high school graduates in terms of academic ability.

Source: Utica Community Schools

Dr. Christine Johns, Superintendent of Schools

Http://www.uticak12.org