Woodlands Academy senior is a 2024 National Merit Finalist
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart has announced that one of its senior class members continues to advance in her pursuit of a highly prestigious scholarship award. Gianna Keuer of Barrington is among 15,000 high school seniors nationwide achieving Finalist status in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented students will compete for some 7,140 National Merit scholarships worth nearly $28 million to be awarded in the spring.
Earlier this school year, Keuer was named a National Merit Semifinalist, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. She advanced to the Finalists’ round based on her academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
“I am delighted that Gianna has been recognized with accolade, it is a testament to her hard work and determination,” Woodlands Academy Head of School Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D., said. “Gianna has been a strong member of our math and Scholastic Bowl teams leading them to success in regional competitions. An officer of the Service Club, Gianna recognizes the needs of others and strives to make positive change in the community.”
Following her Woodlands Academy graduation, Keuer plans to attend Bowdoin College — a “historic and selective” institution in Maine — majoring in government and legal studies.
The 2024 National Merit Scholarship competition began during the last school year, with more than 1.5 million juniors taking a preliminary exam. The resultant nationwide pool of Semifinalists included the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Each Semifinalist had to have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirmed the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
Three types of scholarships will be awarded this spring. National Merit $2,500 Scholarships are given out on a state-representational basis. In addition, corporations and business organizations will provide about 840 Merit Scholarship awards to Finalists who meet their specific criteria. And about 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 Merit Scholarship awards to Finalists attending the sponsoring institutions.
Evanston-based National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a nonprofit organization that operates without government assistance. It was established in 1955 to honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.
Woodlands Academy is a Catholic, independent, day-and-boarding, college-preparatory school for young women of all faiths in ninth through 12th grade. Founded in Chicago in 1858 and located in Lake Forest since 1904, it is part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries on six continents.