6 District 5 Students Wins College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

Six students from Lexington-Richland School District Five have been named winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities.

• From Chapin High School: Jacob Lass received a National Merit Clemson University Scholarship, while Mary Efird earned one from the University of South Carolina.
• From Dutch Fork High: Grigory Avsyuk received a scholarship from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Beau Bennett received an award from Clemson University and Ellen Gardiner earned the National Merit University of South Carolina Scholarship.
• Irmo High School student Samuel Collinsworth was awarded a National Merit Scholarship from the University of South Carolina. 

District Five was the only district in South Carolina to have a student from each of its public high schools named to the list. Only Greenville and Charleston districts had more honorees. Those districts have at least 15 high schools each compared to the three high schools in District Five. Just 62 students from the Palmetto State received the college-sponsored Merit Scholarships announced on May 29. 

“Having such a high number of students from our district named to this prestigious award is an extraordinary accomplishment, one that shows the high caliber and quality of education in District Five,” District Five Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner said. 

Chapin High School Principal Dr. Akil Ross said, “The Eagle Family is proud of the achievements of our National Merit Scholarship awardees. We work tirelessly to implement our PSAT/SAT improvement plan which includes Junior Varsity and Varsity SAT Teams, Advanced Placement Courses, and testing skills workshops. Jacob and Mary are great examples of Chapin High students who work hard to benefit from these programs.” 

Dutch Fork Principal Dr. Gregory Owings said, “We are so proud of Grigory, Beau and Ellen. Their academic performance at Dutch Fork has been outstanding. All of them are special individuals who represent the best of what we hope for in our young people.” 

The College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarship announcement is the third of its kind this year by National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The not-for-profit group named winners of corporate-sponsored awards on April 24 and recipients of its National Merit $2,500 Scholarships on May 8. On July 15, NMSC will announce additional recipients of college-sponsored awards. 

Submitted by Lexington-Richland District Five.