KU News Release

KU welcomes new National Merit, National Achievement, National Hispanic scholars

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LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Office of Admissions and Scholarships has announced the names of 56 KU students in three national scholarship programs: National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic.

Fifty-two National Merit scholars, three National Hispanic scholars and one National Achievement scholar, a program for outstanding African-Americans, chose KU. Forty-three National Merit scholars, two National Hispanic scholars and the National Achievement scholar are Kansans.

Two of the National Merit scholars, Nameer Baker of Manhattan and Richard Zachary “Zach” Robinson of Garnett, also received KU’s Perfect Achievement Scholarship for earning perfect scores on their college entrance exams.

Including the 56 new scholars, KU enrolls 219 National Merit scholars and 23 National Hispanic and National Achievement scholars.

The National Merit scholarship is widely regarded as the most prestigious national award bestowed upon high school seniors. Fewer than 10,000 students of the 1.2 million who compete for the award, or less than 1 percent, receive National Merit scholarships. Recipients are chosen based on their academic abilities and records and extracurricular activities.

The National Hispanic scholars and National Achievement scholars programs are the nation’s most prestigious competitive scholarships for minority students. National Achievement scholarships are provided through the National Merit Scholarship Corp. in Evanston, Ill. National Hispanic scholarships are coordinated through the National Hispanic Recognition Program, through the College Board offices in New York City.

For fall 2006, the National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic scholars each received $10,000 scholarships. The scholarships are renewable.

KU enrolls more Kansas students than any other university or college in the state and encourages more of the state’s top scholars to come to KU, graduate and stay in Kansas as they begin their careers.

Scholars are listed below by home county or state.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.