The Board of Trustees recognized the students at its March 2021 Board meeting. The students were among the 16,000 Semifinalists named in September 2020. All 13 met requirements to advance to Finalists standing in the competition that began with more than 1.5 million juniors from approximately 21,000 high schools across the country. Finalists will be considered for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards worth more than $30 million.
Highland Park High School 2021 National Merit Scholarship Finalist are:
- Clarabel T. Chen
- Angela Cheng
- Michelle Cheng
- Anna K. Gregory
- Lindsey A. Haag
- Madeline G. Helton
- Thomas R. Ibbotson
- Cameron C. Laurie
- David S. Lightbourn
- Joshua G. Martin
- Tabish Soleman
- Eleanor P. Steger
- Kai Tsuei
Three types of Merit Scholarships will be awarded in the spring of 2021. Every finalist will compete for one of the $2,500 National Merit scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis.
In addition, approximately 220 corporations and business organizations will underwrite 1,000 scholarships for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor's employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. Also, about 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,100 Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsoring institutions.