Danielle N. Spencer of Lamar High School and Ngozi A. Ukazu from Bellaire High School are among the nine Houston Independent School District Seniors named as semifinalists in the 2008 National Achievement Scholarship Program.
The nine students are among more than 1,600 African-American high school seniors who have been designated semifinalists in the 45th annual Achievement Scholarship competition. These students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 scholarships worth more than $2.6 million.
Seven of the nine semifinalists are from DeBakey High School for Health Professions. Those students are: Alexandria N. Igwe, Praise O. Iyiewuare, Kiara D. Littlejohn, Iyabo Osuamkpe, Neal Outland, Ariel P. Smith, and Jeremiah I. Umoh.
The National Achievement Program, conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, is a privately financed academic competition that operates without
government assistance. It was founded in 1964 to recognize academically promising African-American students throughout the nation and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding program participants. To date, more than 27,800 young men and women have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $91 million.
National Achievement Scholarships provided in 2009 will be supported by corporations, professional organizations, foundations, and by NMSC’s own funds. Two types of scholarships will be offered. Every finalist will compete for one of the 700 one-time National Achievement $2500 Scholarships, which will be awarded on a regional representation basis. In addition, corporate and business sponsors will underwrite about 100 Achievement Scholarship awards for finalists who meet the program’s criteria.
Although some corporate-sponsored awards provide a single payment, most are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study. The names of scholarship winners will be released in early April.
Facebook Comments