North Penn High School. Photo by James Short.
Senior Kassandra Tran was awarded the scholarship, sponsored by Liberty Mutual.
The North Penn School District is proud to recognize North Penn High School senior Kassandra Tran, who was recently named a National Merit Corporate Scholarship designee.
Tran has been awarded the National Merit Liberty Mutual Scholarship. Around 770 students received this honor alongside Tran, with 32 other students in Pennsylvania. These students make up about 0.5% of the nation’s graduating class of 2024.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is a rigorous competition for academic recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.6 million entrants each year and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.
There are three types of scholarships offered to students: the National Merit $2,500 Scholarship, college-sponsored Merit Scholarship, and corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship. Depending on the sponsor, renewable scholarships can range from $1,000 to $10,000 per year, while nonrenewable scholarships offer $2,500 to $5,000. Combined, these scholarships are worth tens of millions of dollars, with last year’s totaling to $36 million. Each award is an incredible honor, recognizing designees’ diligence and commitment to education.
Tran has committed to New York University with the intention of double-majoring in Business and Journalism. During her time at NYU, she hopes to study abroad in Madrid or Buenos Aires, receiving a new cultural experience while refining her Spanish. Her interest in writing and contemporary news has inspired her to become a broadcast journalist so that she may have a direct impact on the course of modern media.
This press release was written by Tran herself, the first of many contributions she will make to the world of journalism. Tran is currently in a mentorship program with the North Penn School District Office of School & Community Engagement.
For more information about the National Merit Program, please click here www.nationalmerit.org.
