Twelve seniors from Gwinnett County Public Schools have been awarded 2024 National Merit Scholarships, sponsored by U.S. colleges and universities. The winners are:
Archer High School:
- Brandon J. Woolfolk (Environmental Engineering) – University of Central Florida
Brookwood High School:
- Aidan T. Stanley (Computer Science) – University of Alabama
Duluth High School:
- Cassandra E. Norris (Counseling) – University of Alabama
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology:
- Gabriel M. Babb (Mechanical Engineering) – University of Georgia
- Harold H. Fu (Video Game Design) – University of Georgia
- Haven A. Hardy (Environmental Engineering) – University of Georgia
- Diana E. Mawejje (Cell Biology) – University of Tulsa
Mill Creek High School:
- Alexander J. Vaitl (Computer Science) – University of Georgia
North Gwinnett High School:
- Aaron J. Kim (Civil Engineering) – Vanderbilt University
- Keira C. Olds (Aerospace Engineering) – Purdue University
- Jonathan K. Schofield (Computer Engineering) – University of Georgia
- Jenny Thai (Pediatrics) – University of Georgia
The National Merit Scholars are part of an elite group of students recognized for their exceptional achievements and potential for success in rigorous college programs. Each sponsor college selected winners from among the finalists who will attend their institution, providing scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.
In 2024, 149 higher education institutions are sponsoring Merit Scholarship awards, including 77 private and 72 public institutions across 42 states and the District of Columbia. These college-sponsored scholarships are part of a broader initiative that awarded National Merit Scholarships to over 6,900 high school seniors, totaling nearly $26 million.
Students entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists were the highest-scoring entrants in each state, representing less than one percent of the nation’s seniors. To become finalists, they had to fulfill additional requirements, including a detailed scholarship application, an essay, and confirmation of their academic performance through SAT or ACT scores. From the group of more than 16,000 semifinalists, over half have received Merit Scholarships for 2024.
