Peoria Unified School District has two finalists in the National Merit Scholarship program this year.
Finalists include Cactus High School senior Strider Johnston and Sunrise Mountain High School senior Charles Haskins.
As finalists, they will be considered for National Merit Scholarships and those winners will be announced between April and July.
Established in 1955, National Merit Scholarship Corporation is an independent, not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. NMSC is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and contributions to NMSC are tax deductible by the donor.
NMSC conducts the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an annual academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships.
Additionally, from 1965 to 2015, NMSC conducted the National Achievement® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for Black American high school students.
NMSC’s goals have remained constant since its inception:
•to identify and honor academically talented U.S. high school students,
•to stimulate increased support for their education,
• to provide efficient and effective program management for organizations who wish to sponsor college undergraduate scholarships.