Polk County Public Schools
Three Polk County public school seniors were named 2008 National Merit Scholars in an April 30 announcement by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
More than 1.4 million students entered the 2008 National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The 2008 National Merit Scholars, including the three Polk students, represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and are the highest scoring entrants in the country. About 8,200 students nationally attain National Merit Scholar status.
Polk’s National Merit Scholars are listed with their school, residence, probable field of study and organization that is funding the scholarship. National Merit Scholarships are $2,500.
--Monica Bhutiani, Bartow International Baccalaureate, resident of Winter Haven, probable career field of medicine, scholarship funded by State Farm Companies Foundation.
--Emily A. Trogolo, Bartow International Baccalaureate, resident of Lakeland, probable career field of public health/medicine, scholarship funded by National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
--Elizabeth J. Young, Harrison Center For Visual And Performing Arts, resident of Lakeland, probable career field of architecture, scholarship funded by National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
National Merit Scholars whose scholarships will be funded by a college or university will be announced on May 28 and July 14.
Polk Public Schools have eight more students in contention for National Merit Scholarships that will be announced on May 28 and July 14. They are currently National Merit finalists and are listed according to school with their residences in parentheses.
Bartow International Baccalaureate: Kaleb D. Delk (Winter Haven), Chrisopher B. Lioi (Winter Haven), Jaclyn M. Nelson (Lake Wales), Jasmina A. Ouhri (Lakeland), Richard J. Schuler (Lakeland)
Harrison School for the Arts: Caitlin E. Howell (Lakeland)
Lakeland High: Tyler E. Bias (Lakeland)
Polk Community College High: Barbara J. Dinkins (Lakeland)