TUSD Student only Tucsonan Selected as Semi-Finalist for 2004 National Achievement Scholarship Program

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Estella Zavala or Jennea Bono Moore, 225-6437 
Posted on: October 1, 2003

Sabrina Sykes, a senior at University High School, 422 N. Arcadia Blvd., was named as the only Tucson semifinalist in the 40th National Achievement Scholarship Program, an academic competition for African-American high school students. 

Sabrina, along with 1,600 other high school students from around the nation, now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for over 775 Achievement Scholarship awards, worth a total of $2.7 million, to be offered next spring. She was chosen on the basis of her 2002 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores. To be selected as a finalist, Sabrina will be judged not only on her academic performance throughout high school, but also on SAT scores, a self-descriptive essay, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and educational goals.

Approximately 1,300 semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level for 2004. Each will be considered for one of 450 National Achievement $2,500 Scholarships. Corporations, foundations, and professional associations will finance roughly 125 of the awards handed out. In addition, colleges and universities will provide approximately 200 awards for finalists who will attend the institution financing the award. Winners will be selected according to the criteria set by the grantor organization. 

The National Achievement Program was established in 1964 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to honor outstanding black youth and to increase their educational opportunities. Since its inception more than 24,500 students have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth nearly $78 million.

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