September 12, 2019

Pope Francis Preparatory student recognized in National Merit Scholarship Program

REGIONAL
Staff report

Pictured are (left to right) Paul Harrington, head of school; Cameron Dougal; and Cynthia Geiger, assistant head of school. (IObserve photo/courtesy of Pope Francis Preparatory School)

SPRINGFIELD – Pope Francis Preparatory School announced Sept. 11 that one of their students has been recognized in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Senior Cameron Dougal, son of Julie and Thomas Dougal of Indian Orchard, was named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. He and approximately 16,000 other seniors nationwide are vying for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million this coming spring.

Dougal was among the 1.5 million juniors in more than 21,000 high schools who entered the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2018 preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1 percent of all U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants from each state.

To become a finalist, Dougal submitted a detailed scholarship application, in which he was asked to provide information about his academic record; participation in school and community activities; demonstrated leadership abilities; employment; and any honors and awards received. Additionally, to become a semifinalist, a student must have established an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirmed his performance on the earlier qualifying test.

Dougal will be notified in February 2020 if he is selected to advance to the finalist level for consideration as National Merit Scholarship winner. All National Merit Scholarship winners for 2020 will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July, where they will join 345,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title in the past.

“Cameron has set an impressive example for his peers, both inside and out of the classroom,” said Paul Harrington, head of school. “This prestigious recognition is an honor that will stay with him throughout his academic and professional careers.

“Our entire school community is very proud of his academic accomplishments and having a student who achieved recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program exemplifies our commitment to a rigorous academic program,” Harrington said.