Durham Public Schools’ Students in National Spotlight
March 24, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Durham, NC – Durham Public Schools is pleased to announce 11 high school students are now finalists for prestigious national awards.
To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. The semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s essay and information about the semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.
“These students have worked hard to reach this point,” said Beth Cross, Director of Advanced Academics. “They will be wonderful representatives of their high schools and our school district as they transition into college and beyond.”
Listed below are the students and the awards they are pursuing.
National Merit Scholarship Finalists (2011)
- Aaron Gross (Durham School of the Arts)
- Isabelle Sinclair (Durham School of the Arts)
- William Frauenfelder (Jordan High School)
- John “Sam” Selig (Jordan High School)
- Rebecca Telford-Marx (Jordan High School)
- David Korest (Riverside High School)
- Alexander Britt (Riverside High School)
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) – a test which serves as an initial screen of more than 1.5 million entrants each year – and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.
National Achievement Scholars (2011)
- Cristina Brackeen (Jordan High School)
- Kendyl Curry (Jordan High School)
- Christopher Grant (Jordan High School)
The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding African-American high school students. African-American students may enter both the National Achievement Program and the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and meeting other published requirements for participation. The two annual programs are conducted concurrently but operated and funded separately. A student's standing is determined independently in each program. African-American students can qualify for recognition and be honored as Scholars in both the National Merit Program and the National Achievement Program, but can receive only one monetary award from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
National Hispanic Recognition Program (2011)
- Isabella Premont (Middle College DTCC)
The National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) identifies nearly 5,000 outstanding Hispanic/Latino students each year. Although the NHRP does not provide a financial reward, being named is an important academic recognition. The program sends a list of all recognized students to subscribing colleges and universities that are particularly interested in academically outstanding seniors of Hispanic/Latino heritage.
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Tahira Stalberte
Chief Communications Officer
P. 919.560.9112
C. 919.358.8876
tahira.stalberte@dpsnc.net
Jeff Nash
Communications Coordinator
P. 919.560.2602
C. 919.412.7947
jeff.nash@dpsnc.net
