Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858.
LAWRENCE - The University of Kansas has set a new record by recruiting a class of 116 National Merit Scholars this fall, Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced today.
This year's total easily surpasses last year's record of 101, which made KU one of the nation's the top 10 public universities in the enrollment of new National Merit scholars. KU's current national ranking of ninth could be boosted by this fall's enrollment.
More National Merit Scholars from this year's class came from Kansas high schools than any other state. KU was again one of the nation's leaders in attracting a high percentage of its home state's National Merit Scholars. Nearly a third of the approximately 150 National Merit Scholars from the state of Kansas - 46 - chose to attend KU. The university attracted 70 National Merit Scholars from out-of-state, due in part to national publicity about KU's top 10 ranking in 1999 and its growing reputation as one of the nation's top public universities.
"This reflects the growing awareness across the state and the country of KU's exceptional academic programs and top-notch faculty," said Chancellor Robert Hemenway. "It's clear more and more of the nation's top students, who could go to any school in the nation, are choosing to attend KU."
"We also are proud that so many top Kansas students have chosen KU. This demonstrates that you don't have to leave Kansas to get a superior college education," Hemenway said.
The rise in National Merit Scholars at KU mirrors an overall rise in the academic achievements of new KU students, said Alan Cerveny, director of admissions and scholarships. The quality of this year's freshman class is reflected in higher standardized test scores, higher class rankings and cumulative grade-point averages, Cerveny said.
Another quality indicator is seen in the number of new student scholars enrolling in the university's two honors programs, KU Honors and Mount Oread Scholars, which grew by nearly 70 percent over last year.
"We are proud to acknowledge that our students represent some of the finest students from Kansas and throughout the nation," Cerveny said.
The chancellor will address the new National Merit Scholar enrollment in his annual faculty and staff convocation address at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, in 110 Budig Hall. He also will discuss the university's growing role in the Greater Kansas City area, progress toward Initiative 2001 goals, and report on the outcome of the Science Education Task Force, which he appointed last year.
The National Merit Scholarship is widely regarded as the most prestigious nationwide award bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Less than 10,000 students receive National Merit Scholarships from the 1.2 million students who compete for the award. Recipients are chosen based on their academic abilities and records and extracurricular activities.
KU's National Merit Scholarship program includes tuition, and room and board in student housing.
Last year's top 10 list included the University of Texas at Austin with 244 National Merit Scholars; the University of California, Berkeley, 235; Texas A&M University, 181; the University of Florida, 176; the University of Oklahoma, 136; Arizona State University, 132; Iowa State University, 116; Ohio State University, 109; KU, 101; and the University of California, Los Angeles, 97. Kansas State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia each enrolled 22 National Merit Scholars last year; the University of Nebraska enrolled 29.
Overall, 3,498 new National Merit Scholars enrolled at 140 public universities in 1999. There were 9,815 National Merit Scholars this year in the nation, 150 in the state of Kansas.
KU enrolled 101 National Merit Scholars in 1999, 63 in 1998, 90 in 1997, and 58 in 1996.