GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Patrick Jeon, a senior at Bolsa Grande High School, is the winner of a prestigious National Merit Scholarship for 2013. His scholarship of $2,500 is underwritten by the program’s sponsors, the National Merit Scholarship Corp.
Patrick Jeon
As a scholarship recipient, the 18-year-old Garden Grove resident is representative of the top quarter of one percent of the nation’s high school seniors. Approximately 16,000 students nationwide were named semifinalists among 1.5 million who took the PSAT, the scholarship’s qualifying examination. From the pool of finalists, some 8,000 will be designated merit scholars for the current school year, dividing $35 million for college undergraduate study.
Patrick maintains an exemplary scholastic record in Advanced Placement and Honors classes at Bolsa Grande. Along with his challenging schoolwork, he participates in Key Club, Mens’ League, Math Club, journalism, Red Cross, MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) Club and his church. Patrick is also co-valedictorian of his graduating class and will attend UC Berkeley to study mechanical engineering.
The scholars were chosen by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors taking into account the finalists’ academic records, class grades and difficulty of high school coursework, scores from two standardized tests, school and community service, a written essay, and endorsement by a school official. Only candidates judged to have the strongest combination of academic skills and achievements, extracurricular accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies are chosen as Merit Scholarship winners.
