FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rob Crissinger
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Epic Charter Schools announces four National Merit Scholarship finalists
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 20, 2024) – Epic Charter Schools announced today four of its students have been named finalists in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Program. Kyle Anderson of Broken Arrow, Sarah Biederman of Tulsa, Jacob Clyde and Amy Bouma, both of Edmond, will join their fellow finalists in competing for more than 7,000 National Merit Scholarships nationwide, totaling nearly $28 million.
These four exceptional students are part of a pool of more than 15,000 finalists nationwide, which represents less than 1% of graduating high school seniors in the United States. In addition to the rigorous application process and maintaining the highest academic standards throughout their high school careers, each of them has displayed active participation in school and community service, demonstrated leadership skills and been endorsed by their school. Complete details on qualification can be found here.
“These four outstanding Epic students are, quite simply, the best of the best and I couldn’t be more proud of this remarkable milestone they have achieved,” said Epic Charter Schools Superintendent Bart Banfield. “The determination, focus and high level of academic commitment each of them has shown will serve them well and set them up for future success.”
The four are now eligible for three types of National Merit Scholarships. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships. There are approximately 840 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships available and sponsored by some 160 corporations and businesses that meet their specific criteria. Further, around 160 colleges and universities are expected to fund nearly 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarships for finalists who attend their institutions. These awards will be announced between spring and summer of this year.
If Anderson, Biederman, Clyde and Bouma are selected for Merit Scholarships, they will join the ranks of approximately 375,000 others in being able to call themselves National Merit Scholars.
“These four exceptional young men and women have made their families, communities and school extremely proud,” Banfield said.