North Shore High School senior Joanna Kim has been named a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, school officials announced.
Director of counseling Dan Doherty and high school counselor Tim Shea said Kim earned the recognition after previously being selected as a semifinalist in September. Winners of the scholarships will be announced later this month.
Kim was initially selected as a semifinalist based on her academic skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
About 95% of semifinalists advance to finalist standing, and approximately half of finalists will receive a National Merit Scholarship and the Merit Scholar title.
Principal Michael Contreras praised Kim’s achievement.
“We are proud of Joanna for her terrific accomplishment,” Contreras said. “She is a stellar member of our North Shore community. She is intellectually driven, a talented musician and a multilingual leader who brings out the best in those around her.”
Kim has also been admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and plans to attend in the fall, school officials said.
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is a nonprofit organization that operates without government assistance. Established in 1955, the organization conducts the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Scholarships are funded by the organization and by about 440 business organizations and colleges and universities that support its mission of recognizing academic excellence.
Source: LI Press
