Three CCSD Seniors Earn 2024 National Merit Scholarships!

Three Cherokee County School District graduating seniors have earned the prestigious 2024 National Merit Scholarship!

Laura Hand of Creekview HS and Livana Lekas and Valor Lekas of Sequoyah HS today were among the top 2,500 seniors in the U.S. awarded the $2,500 scholarship by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  

They and their fellow Merit Scholar designees were selected from more than 15,000 outstanding finalists who made it through the initial rigorous selection process for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.  

Merit Scholars are selected based on their accomplishments, skills, and potential for college success.  The selection committee is made up of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who review records submitted by finalists and their high schools including difficulty of courses and grades earned, college-entrance exam scores, contributions and leadership in school and community activities, an essay written by the finalist and a recommendation written by a high school official.

Laura is headed to Duke University where she will major in biology with a pre-med track as she pursues a future career in surgical medicine.

Livana and Valor, who are twin sisters, this fall both will attend the University of Georgia as members of its Honors Program.  Livana will double major in mathematics and piano music performance with plans to pursue a career in mathematics.  Valor, also selected as a UGA CURO Research Scholar, will double major in ecology and environmental economics and management with plans to pursue a career in environmental policy.

They and CCSD’s four other National Merit Finalists -- of Creekview HS, Peter Greenwell and Kinley Sikes; of River Ridge HS, Rylan Radziewicz; and of Woodstock HS, Xavier Olsen -- next will be considered for college-sponsored National Merit scholarships, which will be announced this spring and summer.

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