7/13/2023 – Two recent Parkway West graduates were awarded College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Program.

College-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners are a part of the distinguished group of about 3,800 high school seniors who will receive National Merit Scholarships for college undergraduate study worth over $28 million. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

This year, 153 higher education institutions are underwriting Merit Scholarship awards. Sponsor colleges and universities include 81 private and 72 public institutions located in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

The students are:

West High
Katherine Evans
Probable career field: International Relations
American University

Shiv Sharma
Probable career field: Healthcare
University of Missouri – Columbia

The scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors. The selection of winners is based on academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay; and a recommendation from a high school official.