LA PLATA, Md. (July 28, 2009)—Gavin Reen, a 2009 La Plata High School graduate, was named a National Merit Scholar earlier this month by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. As a National Merit Scholar, Reen will receive a college-sponsored scholarship up to $2,000 annually for four years.
Reen plans to attend the University of Maryland and received the National Merit University of Maryland Scholarship award. He was selected for the award from among 2,000 other college-sponsored award recipients.
Reen joins the 8,300 students nationwide named to the 2009 National Merit Scholars Program. Students are selected for these awards based on their preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores, which serve as an initial screening for the program. Semifinalists are selected in each state and represent less than one percent of a state's seniors.
Finalists in the program complete a detailed application process, which includes an essay, an outstanding academic record, an endorsement by a high school official, and SAT scores that confirm the qualifying test performance.
The NMSC is a non-profit organization that was established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Program. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by NMSC's funds and more than 500 business organizations and other educational institutions with the goal of honoring the nation's scholastic students and the pursuit of academic excellence.