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Five Marion Students Named 2019 National Merit Semifinalists
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Public Relations & Communications Director
352.671.7555 ◊ FAX: 352.671.7735 ◊ CELL: 352.840.3265
Email: Public.Relations@Marion.k12.fl.us
FIVE MARION STUDENTS NAMED
2019 NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS
MARION COUNTY – Five seniors enrolled in Marion County Public Schools are semifinalists in the competitive 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, one of the nation’s most prestigious college programs.
With approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, these students represent less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors, indicating the high honor of being named a semifinalist.
William Giliberti (Vanguard High) is 17 years old and attended Saddlewood and Dr. NH Jones Elementary Schools along with Howard Middle School. He would love to attend Columbia University but has yet to decide his career major. He is the son of Richard and Qiong Giliberti of Ocala. (352.678.9956)
Mansi Patel (Vanguard High) is 17 years old and attended Emerald Shores Elementary and Howard Middle Schools. She plans to attend the University of Florida to become a cardiologist and is the daughter of Deepa Patel of Ocala. (352.454.5752)
Kranti Rumalla (West Port High) is 17 years old and previously attended Shady Hill Elementary and Howard Middle Schools. He plans to attend college to study medicine and philosophy to become a physician. Kranti is the son of Dr. Ashwin and Kala Rumalla of Ocala. (352.342.2724)
Melissa Stroup (West Port High) is 17 years old and previously attended Evergreen and Dr. NH Jones Elementary Schools and Howard Middle. She is undecided on which college to attend, though she’s leaning toward the University of Florida to study healthcare. She’s the daughter of Bryan and Cindy Stroup of Ocala. (352.497.1643)
Jeremy Wellhoner (Forest) is 17 years old and previously attended Ft. McCoy and Dr. NH Jones Elementary Schools along with Howard and Osceola Middle Schools. He wants to attend either Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the University of Florida, or the US Air Force Academy to eventually become an aerospace engineer. He is the son of Stephen and Laura Wellhoner of Ocala. (342.789.2826)
Starting in March 2019, these students will learn if they advance to the next round as finalists.
The 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program will award $31 million in college scholarships to more than 7,500 students from 1.6 million entrants. The program has handed out over $1.6 billion in scholarships since it started in 1955.
For more information, contact my office or visit www.nationalmerit.org.
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