Davenport High’s Gianna Junqueira has won a National Merit Scholarship.
Junqueira was one of approximately 750 winners announced today, who received National Merit Scholarships financed by colleges and universities. Each scholarship is worth up to $2,000 annually.
Junquiera’s scholarship is from the University of South Florida. She is the fifth National Merit winner from PCPS this year, along with Jimmy Barrios and Elijah Englund from International Baccalaureate Bartow, Payson Keown from International Baccalaureate Haines City, and Cullen Wyatt from Lakeland High.
This year’s National Merit program featured more than 15,000 student finalists. The winners were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who reviewed students’ academics, test performance and contributions to their schools and communities.
Students selected as winners are those “judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies,” according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Altogether, more than 7,140 students received scholarships this year.