Polk County Public Schools
Six Polk public school students are 2010 National Merit Scholarship finalists according to the National Merit Scholarship program. Approximately 15,000 students nationally are finalists.
More than 1.5 million students entered the 2010 National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The 2010 National Merit finalists, including the six Polk students, represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and are the highest scoring entrants in the country on the qualifying test.
Included as a 2010 National Merit finalist is Henrique F. Valim, the first-ever National Merit finalist from Haines City High’s International Baccalaureate program. Haines City High’s IB program started with the 2006-2007 school year. Valim, from Winter Haven, is a member of Haines City IB’s first graduating class.
National Merit scholarship winners are announced in April, May and July of 2010.
Polk’s National Merit finalists are listed according to school with residence in parentheses.
Bartow International Baccalaureate: Lesley P. Ferguson (Lakeland), James W. Karson (Lakeland), Ryan J. Newell (Lakeland), Stephen A. Samples (Lakeland).
George Jenkins High: Brandon M. Azzarella (Lakeland)
Haines City International Baccalaureate: Henrique F. Valim (Winter Haven)
