Irma Lemus
BURBANK -- Scoring at the top 1% of high school seniors across the
nation, three Burbank students are finalists to become National Merit
Scholars.
The winners will be announced in April.
High school seniors qualify to compete for the scholarships during
their junior year by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test,
said Gloria Ladendorf, public information assistant director for the
National Merit Scholarship Corp.
Students who score in the highest percentile on the test then submit a
personal essay and SAT scores. Ladendorf said the students' overall
academic performance is reviewed.
She said 7,700 students across the nation will be named National Merit
Scholars eligible for the various scholarships offered.
Ladendorf said the organization offers the National Merit Scholarships
of $2,000, in addition various scholarships are offered by business and
some scholarships are offered by colleges and universities throughout the
nation.
MICHAEL TSENG, John Burroughs High School
Despite scoring a perfect score of 240 on the PSAT, 17-year-old
Michael Tseng remains modest.
"I don't know what to say. It's a prestigious award and a big honor,
but I don't want to show off," Michael said.
Tseng, who is the editor of the school newspaper, said he has decided
on how to focus his education.
"I guess I'm majoring in the classics because it's weird, but also
because my mom has a Ph.D in it," he said.
The young student said he feels pretty confident about being accepted
to Harvard, his first choice, but nonetheless has applied to Yale,
Northwestern and John Hopkins University.
"As far as journalism, Harvard doesn't really have a strong journalism
program, but I might join the newspaper," he said.
EUGENE SHIN, Burbank High School
For Eugene Shin, 18-year-old senior at Burbank High School, the brains
are in the genes, he said.
Shin said both of his sisters have been National Merit finalists. He
said his parents always emphasized schoolwork.
"I remember when we were small we would go on family trips and I'd
have to write an essay about the experience for my parents," Shin said.
Shin, who received a 234 out of a 240 on the PSAT, says he wants to
major in business and hopes to one day own his own business.
"My dad has always taught me about saving and making money," he said.
Shin applied to Stanford, Harvard, U.C. Berkeley and UCLA.
MIKE GARRELS, John Burroughs High School
Mike Garrels, a 17-year-old senior at John Burroughs High School,
credits his love of learning for qualifying for the prestigious award.
Garrels, who scored a 222 out of 240 on the PSAT, says he wants to go
into the field of materials engineering.
"I want to become an engineer because I like to build things," he
said.
Garrels is a member of the computer club, speech club and the
school's track team.
Garrels, whose mother is a nurse and father works with Lockheed
Martin Corp., credits his academic success to his parents, who always
pushed him to be a good student.
