Aidan Dong, a 2024 graduate of Dreher High School, has been awarded a National Merit Scholarship. The scholarship program recognizes academically talented high school seniors across the country.
Aidan is among more than 3,700 recipients of National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities. He will be attending Mississippi State University in the fall with a major in geology and a minor in political science. Aidan has also received a Presidential Endowed Scholarship from the university.
“This National Merit Scholarship helps open a lot of doors for me, and it saves me a lot of money. It’s really rewarding to be recognized for the work I feel like I’ve put in over the last four years,” he said.
Aidan will receive $500 annually through the scholarship program until he receives his bachelor’s degree.
Four other Dreher graduates were named National Merit Scholarship finalists: Larrabee Ellenberg, Charlotte Peavy, Lena Trask-Trafton and Naja Weinkle.
High school juniors entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
To qualify as finalists, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application which includes their academic record, evidenced participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards. They also must have an exemplary high school academic record, be endorsed by a high school official, write an essay and earn an SAT or ACT score that confirms the student’s academic performance.
National Merit Scholarship winners are selected based on their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in college.
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PHOTO: Aidan Dong, a 2024 graduate of Dreher High School, has been named a 2024 National Merit Scholarship recipient. He will attend Mississippi State University in the fall.
