Tiverton & Cranston Bay View Students Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — Bay View Academy seniors, Cassandra Gendron, of Cranston, and Jessica McDonald, of Tiverton, have been named National Merit Finalists for 2017, the school said.

Jessica McDonald, of Tiverton Courtesy Photo Credit: Chestnut Hill Studios

As two of more than 15,000 finalists nationwide, they are now in consideration for one of the 7,400 scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered in March, according to the press release from Bay View.

Cassandra Gendron, of Cranston Courtesy Photo Credit: Chestnut Hill Studios

The merit scholarships are among the most prestigious in the U.S.

"To become a finalist, the semifinalist and the student's high school must submit a detailed scholarship application," Bay View said. The information that includes academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. "A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test."

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