Three from MPH named finalists in National Merit Scholarship Program

Three MPH seniors have advanced to finalist standing in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Sung-Ho Oh, of Jamesville, Benjamin Parks, of Hamilton, and Joseph Sopchak, of Syracuse, were selected as finalists based on their outstanding academic records throughout high school, exceptional PSAT and SAT scores, and a detailed scholarship application that includes information about their participation and leadership in school and community activities.

More than 1.5 million high school seniors across the nation entered the scholarship competition when taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test in 2010. The three MPH students are among just 15,000 finalists who remain in the competition. This spring, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will announce the winners of 8,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million.

Parks named candidate for Presidential Scholar award

Parks was also recently selected as a candidate in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the Department of Education.

The highly select program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize the nation’s most distinguished graduating students for outstanding scholarship. The program was expanded in 1979 to also recognize demonstrated ability and accomplishment in the visual and performing arts or in creative writing.

Ben is one of only 3,000 candidates invited to apply to this year’s Presidential Scholars Program. Application is by invitation only — students may not apply on their own or be nominated by their schools.

In 2007, Tim Moon, then an MPH senior, was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar.