2019 National Merit Scholarship Program Winners

**UPDATE** (6/6/19)

KEVIN LIU has received the National Merit Case Western Reserve University Scholarship. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the Finalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.


May 2019

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recently announced that Greeley's ALAN GU, ISHA PURI and ARON ZHAO are National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners. The 2,500 Merit Scholars were chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. 
National Merit Scholarship winners are the finalists judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

In addition, Greeley’s NATHAN HUANG is among of the first group of 1,000+ distinguished high school seniors to earn a Corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship Award financed by about 160 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.

He received the National Merit New York Life Family Scholarship. Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.

Photo Slideshow


ALAN GU
This year, Alan is on the Leadership Council for the Class of 2019 and co-leads Greeley’s Friends of Foster Care Club. He was a member of the freshman and JV tennis teams and currently manages the boys varsity team when not conducting research as part of Greeley’s Science Research Program or performing with Greeley’s Symphony Orchestra.

While not certain what the future will hold, Alan is considering computer science, finance, or medicine as possible career options, but his immediate goal is to expose himself to as much as possible in college.

NATHAN HUANG
Nathan is enrolled in Greeley's Science Research Program, volunteers as a TA for the Huaxia Central New York Chinese School, and is part of Columbia's Science Honors Program as well.

He swims for Greeley's varsity team and the Marlins, plays the clarinet for the Greater Westchester Youth Orchestra Association, and still finds time to pursue his hobbies--playing badminton and producing music.

This fall, Nathan will attend Cornell University and hasn’t fully decided on a major yet. Although, he is considering materials science and engineering or computer science, and is looking forward to joining an engineering project team.

ISHA PURI
At Greeley, Isha has been involved with the CSF Student Advisory Council, the CompSci Club, the Math Club, the Greeley Advocate, and the Track Team. She has also been involved with Greeley’s Science Research Program--earning regional, state and national awards and recognition for her work--and other initiatives.

She will attend Harvard University to study applied math and computer science, and hopes to one day work at the intersection of technology and healthcare, essentially using math and technology to make the world a better place.

ARON ZHAO
Aron is a member of the Academic Challenge and Science Olympiad Clubs, serving this past year as team captain and executive, respectively. He has played cello in school orchestras since 5th grade and has been running on track teams since 7th grade. Outside of school, he is a volunteer firefighter with Millwood FD, and on Saturdays, he attends science-related courses at Columbia University through their Science Honors Program.

Aron intends to study computer science at Cornell University with a possible minor in aerospace, psychology, or global health, which are among his many interests. While at Cornell, he plans to participate in the Army ROTC program.