Cd'A Charter student earns National Merit Scholarship

COEUR d'ALENE — A student at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy was announced Wednesday as the recipient of a 2016 National Merit Scholarship.

Vanessa Clements, a junior at the school, will receive a $2,500 scholarship from the national organization after being selected from a group of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. According to a release from the organization Clements plans on studying mechanical engineering after graduation from Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy and was among 12 students in Idaho to win the award.

"National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies," the release states, adding that the number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state's percentage of graduating high school seniors nationwide.

Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors who, according to the release, appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools. That information includes their academic records, scores from two standardized tests, contributions and leadership in school and community activities, an essay written by the finalist and a recommendation written by a high school official.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is a nonprofit corporation that, according to the release, operates without government assistance and was founded in 1955 to conduct the merit scholarship program.

"The majority of scholarships offered each year are underwritten by approximately 440 independent corporate and college sponsors that share NMSC's goals of honoring scholastically talented youth and encouraging academic excellence at all levels of education," the release states.