By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Vandegrift has a number of seniors in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program based on their outstanding performances on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Sixteen Viper students are National Merit Semifinalists, 40 are National Merit Commended Scholars, and 15 are National Hispanic Scholars. 

“Recognition as a National Merit Scholar is a prestigious, academic accolade,” said Christa Thompson-Martin, dean of instruction at VHS. “By sharing this distinguished achievement with college admissions, our students are set apart in a deep pool of applicants.”

Thompson-Martin said that the benefits of scoring well can be significant.