National Merit Scholarship finalists represent the top 15,000 students nationwide out of more than 1,500,000 who take a standardized test called the PSAT. Scholarship winners are judged on academic accomplishments, standardized test scores, leadership ability, and contributions to the school and community.
“I’m hoping that the award will help me get into a high-ranking college,” said Leon Guerrero, 17. “It is a symbol of the things I’ve been able to achieve so far. I think it means that I’ve done some things right, but I still have quite a ways to go.”
Leon Guerrero hasn’t yet decided which major she wishes to pursue in college, but is considering literature and physics. She has applied to about a dozen colleges and universities throughout the country.
Dr. Dale Jenkins, the school’s headmaster, lauded Leon Guerrero’s accomplishment. “It is very gratifying to see an outstanding young woman like Selyna recognized as being one of the finest high school seniors in the world. She represents the best in what we hope our students to become. Selyna is extremely intelligent and combines the characteristics of integrity, sensitivity, and creativity in her life to be the type of person that we should all emulate.”
Keith Tessen, the SIS college counselor, also praised Leon Guerrero. “The National Merit Scholarship represents one of the highest honors a high school student can achieve. It’s wonderful to see Selyna’s diligence, keen intellect, and commitment to service rewarded like this.”
Leon Guerrero credits a private, non-profit program called QuestBridge for helping her in the arduous task of applying to colleges.
“QuestBridge is an organization that matches students to colleges, and it focuses on students who might not be able to go to a prestigious college otherwise,” she said. “It really helped me during the application process.”
One of Leon Guerrero’s classmates from last year, Marya Oestreich, also has been named a 2009-2010 National Merit Scholarship finalist. Oestreich returned to her native Washington state over the summer. Two other SIS students, Katy Johnson and Caroline Lochabay, received the award two years ago.
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