2 Richland One Seniors Awarded National Merit Scholarships

Two Richland One students are among the 32 South Carolina high school seniors who won highly prestigious National Merit Scholarships.

A.C. Flora High School senior Gray M. Williams and Dreher High School senior Alessandra M. Tuel will each receive a $2,500 scholarship.

Gray plans to pursue a degree in mathematics, while Alessandra hopes to have a career in mechanical engineering.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and college scholarships. These 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.

Submitted by Richland One.