From The Tribune staff reports
IRONDALE – JCIB student Mallory Whitt, of Trussville, was recently named National Merit Finalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program, a distinction that places her among a group of 15,000 students, representing less than one percent of high school seniors. Whitt, who lives in Trussville with her parents Sean and Laurel Whitt, is a senior at Jefferson County International Baccalaureate (JCIB) in Irondale and will graduate on May 19, 2023.
JCIB senior and National Merit Finalist Mallory Whitt
Whitt was one of two students in her high school to receive this award and receive a monetary scholarship from the program.
She was also one of only 5,000 graduating seniors in the United States to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, and was the only student selected for this at her high school. Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character, and involvement in community and school activities.
Whitt scored a perfect 36 on the ACT her junior year of high school. She plans to attend Auburn University in the fall and will major in Chemical Engineering. In addition to receiving the National Merit Scholarship, she also received four scholarships from Auburn University, including the Spirit of Auburn Presidential Scholarship, Hydromatics Inc. Engineering Endowment, Amendi Stephens Ever Auburn Endowed Scholarship, and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Dean’s Annual Scholarship. Additionally, Whitt was a recipient of the Shades Valley Rotary Club Scholarship.
The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year. A finalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students demonstrating exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was expanded once again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical fields. Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth.
A distinguished panel of educators will review these submissions and select approximately 600 semifinalists in early April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 eminent citizens appointed by the President, will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May.
