Polk County Public Schools
Three more members of the class of 2009 from Polk County high schools were named 2009 National Merit Scholars in a May 27 announcement by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The following Polk students were named as National Merit Scholars on May 27. They are listed by school with their residence, probable career field and college or university sponsoring their scholarship. Colleges and universities sponsoring National Merit Scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.
Bartow International Baccalaureate: Andrea T. Fontes (Lake Alfred), mathematics education, the University of Central Florida, Orlando; Kristin L. Mills (Winter Haven), diplomatic service, the University of Central Florida, Orlando.
Polk Community College High: Shiloh C. Hodges (Lakeland), dance, Florida State University, Tallahassee.
More than 1.5 million students entered the 2009 National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The 2009 National Merit Scholars represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and are the highest scoring entrants in the country on the test. Approximately 8,200 high school seniors are named National Merit Scholars.
Polk currently has four National Merit Scholars. Rachel K. Bouchillon, a Bartow resident and member of Bartow International Baccalaureate’s class of 2009, was announced as a National Merit Scholar in a May 6 announcement. Click here to view the announcement.
A final announcement of National Merit Scholars will be made on July 13. The Polk Public Schools currently have three students in contention for National Merit Scholarships. Polk public school students in contention for National Merit Scholarships are listed according to school with residence in parentheses.
Bartow International Baccalaureate: William J. Wysong (Lake Wales).
Harrison Center For The Visual And Performing Arts: Kathryn L. Phillips (Lakeland) and Garrett M. Williams (Lakeland).
