Island Trees Senior Named Semifinalist for National Merit Scholarship

Island Trees High School announced that senior Kathryn Gunderson has been named a Semifinalist for a 2013 National Merit Scholarship.

Gunderson is among 16,000 semi-finalists in the 58^th annual Merit Scholarship Program. She has the opportunity to continue to compete for one of the 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 Million. 

About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2013 program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT, which served as an initial screening of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which included Kathryn, represents less than one percent of all US high school seniors.

To become a finalist, Kathryn must submit an application detailing her academic record, school and community activities, leadership roles and honors and awards received during her high school career.

Semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by high school officials, write an essay and earn SAT scores that confirm their earlier performance on the PSAT.

"We at Island Trees High School have no doubt that Kathryn will continue to be successful throughout the Merit Scholarship process," said Nicholas Grande, Island Trees HS Principal. "As a true scholar and all around leader at the high school, Kathryn is sure to be a stand out! Congratulations Kathryn and best of luck on your road to a Merit Scholarship. You truly are 'one in a million.'"