The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Three scholarship finalists recognized by U-46 board

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 recognized three seniors for being named finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program at its Monday, April 10 meeting.
  The seniors include Madeline Conter (Elgin High School), Hannah Guerra (Bartlett High School) and Andrew Strama (South Elgin High School). They will find out later this spring if they will receive a scholarship.
  “These students were recently named finalists in the prestigious 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program,” said Suzanne Johnson, interim superintendent. “Their selection keeps these students in the competition for approximately 7,500 scholarships that will be offered in spring 2023. And to qualify, the students took the 2021 Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Only the highest-scoring entrants in each state advance to the finalist round.”
  About $28 million in scholarships are available, according to a district press release, and the initial screening begins junior year with students advancing by being in the top 1 percent nationally on the PSAT. Academic records, awards, community participation, employment, honors and leadership are taken into account as they advance.
  Strama said at the meeting that he has not finalized where he will attend college, but he plans to study particle physics.
  “Some of my favorite memories in high school have come from quieter, more relaxed moments where I did nothing more than talk to my friends and slowly whittle away at work,” Strama said for the district release. “Those moments will stick with me the most and I’m happy I was in the position to experience them.”
  Guerra said she will attend the University of Illinois-Chicago and will double major in English and physics with hopes of becoming a published author. She credited the opportunities for writers at Bartlett.
  “It’s a big district, with big schools, and it therefore really has something for everyone,” Guerra said.
  Conter will attend Northwestern University and study mechanical engineering with hopes to become an aerospace engineer.
  “A great aspect of U-46 is the teachers' devotion to giving their students space to contribute their own ideas,” Conter said. “Creativity is encouraged by teachers in our district like my band teacher, and I really appreciate that.”