Each year, one student in the entire country receives the National Merit John M. Stalnaker Memorial Scholarship. This year, that student resides in Port Washington.
It was announced this week that Julia Kim, a senior at Paul D. Schreiber High School, would receive the scholarship given annually to a student pursuing a career in science or mathematics.
“I am really excited to receive this award,” Kim said in a statement. “I am always learning new things and adapting to different situations. This, coupled with my interests, likely had to do with me winning this award.”
Kim will attend Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh this fall, where she will likely major in neuroscience.
The award is named for the man who served as the founding president and director of the National Merit Scholarship Corp. Stalnaker was a researcher and psychology instructor who taught at the University of Chicago, Princeton, Purdue, and Stanford, among others. He was appointed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 to the Board of Foreign Scholarships. In addition to the National Merit Scholarship program, Stalnaker also created the Pepsi-Cola Scholarship Board while at Stanford.
Stalnaker placed a focus on science and mathematics during his time running the organization, which is why his namesake four-year scholarship does as well.
“Julia is yet another example of a Schreiber student receiving recognition on the national stage,” said Port Washington School Superintendent Kathleen Mooney. “On behalf of the entire district, I congratulate Julia and wish her well in her future endeavors.”
According to a spokeswoman, approximately 7,500 high school seniors are awarded scholarships each year by the National Merit Scholarship organizations, which are financed by about 230 corporations and 190 colleges and universities. Many of these awards, like the Stalnaker scholarship, are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide from $500 to $10,000 annually.
“We are all immensely proud of Julia. To be the sole recipient of this national award speaks volumes about her commitment to being the best at her studies and is a testament to her great character,” said Schreiber Principal Ira Pernick. “I thank her for adding to the growing list of Schreiber students who are being recognized for outstanding achievement.”
Another Schreiber student, Julia Ruskin, was awarded a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.
