Garden Grove Unified School District Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Five students from Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) were named semifinalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program – a prestigious recognition earned by less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide.

National Merit Semifinalists from GGUSD included Alex Nguyen from Bolsa Grande High School, Martin Lu and David Nguyen from Garden Grove High School, and Janice Chang and Tariq Foraida from Pacifica High School.

“Congratulations to our students for earning this outstanding academic accomplishment,” said Lan Quoc Nguyen, GGUSD Board of Education trustee. “This elite ranking as a National Merit Semifinalist demands a high level of academic mastery and determination.”

National Merit Semifinalists represent those students who scored highest on the PSAT from each state. Next, students will submit a scholarship application, endorsement from a high school official, essay, and SAT scores.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is designed to recognize students with extraordinary academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college courses. Semifinalists are eligible to compete for 7,500 scholarships worth an estimated $33 million.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a non-profit organization that provides scholarships funded in part by businesses, organizations, and higher education institutions with the goal of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions.

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The Garden Grove Unified School District serves most of Garden Grove and portions of Santa Ana, Anaheim, Westminster, Cypress, Stanton, and Fountain Valley.