Nine Hawaii students were among the 2,500 finalists nationwide awarded National Merit Scholarships worth $2,500 this year.
They were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors based on their academic record, standardized test scores, scholarship essay and recommendations. They were judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for college success.
The Hawaii winners are:
>> Travis J. Afuso of Mililani High School, whose probable career field is military service.
>> Nicholas L. Amador of Punahou School, whose probable career field is astrophysics.
>> Laney R. Flanagan of Maui High School, whose probable career field is chemistry.
>> David H. Huang of ‘Iolani School, whose probable career field is bioinformatics.
>> Austin K. Lau of Punahou School, whose probable career field is engineering.
>> Patrick Leonhardt of Kalaheo High School, whose probable career field is biomedical engineering.
>> Michelle A. Murata of Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama campus, whose probable career field is biology.
>> Chloe A. Shigeoka of Roosevelt High School, whose probable career field is computer science.
>> James B. Simmons of Mid-Pacific Institute, whose probable career field is computer science.
This is the second round of National Merit Scholarship winners for 2018. In April, the names of those who won the corporate- sponsored Merit Scholarship awards were released. In the coming months, the winners of the college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be announced.
