Local Scholar Recognized As National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

By VICTORIA PRAY

Moapa Valley Progress

Moapa Valley High School senior, Grady Call was recognized this month as a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship. The recognition was made at a special reception held on Wednesday, November 14 for the semifinalists of Southern Nevada.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a U.S. academics scholarship competition that provides one $2,500 scholarship per state. It is organized by National Merit Scholarship Corporation a privately funded, nonprofit organization that started the program in 1955.

Call talked about his journey of becoming a semi-finalist which started at the beginning of his junior year by taking the PSAT college entrance exam. Only the top one percent, about 16,000 scholars across all in the nation that took the PSAT, were informed that they qualified as a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship. Call was one of those that qualified, he had to submit an application along with letters of recommendation from his principal and selected teachers.

Call also had to submit an essay on the topic of his choice. He wrote about how participation in his school’s Varsity Quiz team has affected his life.

Early next year, Call will be notified if he is a finalist. From there he will be told if he is a part of the group of 7,500 scholars chosen to receive the $2,500 scholarship.

When asked who has helped him out the most, Call said, “My parents have been the biggest help, keeping me motivated and wanting me to do well in school. As well as making sure I’m on the right track.”

The administrators at Moapa Valley High School warmly congratulated Call on his wonderful accomplishment and for making MVHS proud.
“One of the best things about winning this award is that I could be recognized as well as Moapa Valley High School could be recognized,” Call said. “We turn out great scholars and smart kids and I don’t think Vegas kids know that. This is how we can show them we are a great school.”

Call would like to thank his family and his teachers at Moapa Valley High School for supporting him all the way.