MKA Seniors Gain National Recognition

Congratulations to several MKA seniors who recently gained academic recognition in national scholarship programs.

In the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program, Laura Polding was one of approximately 16,000 students named a National Semifinalist and will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships worth more that $36 million, that will be offered next spring.  More than 1.5 million juniors entered the Program by taking the 2008 PSAT/NMQT.   Laura, who attended the Governor’s School for the Sciences this summer, is Co-Captain of the MKA Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team, Epee Squad Captain on the Varsity Fencing Team and Art Editor for Stylus, MKA’s Upper School arts magazine.

In addition, the following thirteen MKA seniors were among the 34,000 students named Commended Students: Kevin Clark, Alexa Franco, Robert Gelberg, Christina Gonsalves, Taylor Hatch, Rose Koven, Marion Nammack, Zachary Opperman, Julie Reiter, Shaylin Schundler, Emilie Schurenberg, Alexa Semonche and Rosa Wahlers.

In the 2010 National Achievement Scholarship Program, Kevin Clark, Christina Gonsalves and Adam Zerihoun were among the approximately 1,6000 Black American students named Semifinalists and have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship awards worth some $2.6 million to be offered next spring.  Kevin, who was also named a National Merit Commended Scholar, is Captain of the MKA Boys’ Varsity Basketball team and an active member of Habitat for Humanity.  Christina, again a National Merit Commended Scholar, is a member of the MKA Track and Field team and the Step team and is co-founder and co-President of the “Ensenadores” club.  Adam is a member of the MKA Jazz Band.

In addition, seniors Max Jefferson, Chelsea Strickland and Kelsey Taylor were named among the 3,100 Outstanding Participants in the National Achievement Scholarship being referred to colleges and universities.