WWalther Lutheran High School released news that Megan Childs of Forest Park has advanced to Finalist status in the 2008 National Merit® Scholarship Program. The scholastically talented high school senior will continue in the competition toward a Merit® Scholarship award given by the National Merit® Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
Childs is an involved student and an academically recognized student at the Melrose Park school. In addition to holding membership in the National Honor Society and earning a place in the Walther Scholars, she is currently active in Art Club and Camera Club. She serves on the staff of aura, the school’s literary magazine. Megan is a flautist in the school band and orchestra, playing in several ensembles and the pep band. She is involved in theatre, having done design, set construction and orchestra for the spring 2007 production of “Carousel” and the fall 2007 performances of “Romeo and Juliet.” Childs participates in JETS (the Junior Engineering and Technical Society), Women in Engineering, and has traveled to Washington DC as part of the Close Up program. Megan has also competed athletically on Walther’s track and field and cross country teams, as well as the forensics squad.
Approximately 15,000 students placed as Finalists in the 53rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program and will advance in the competition for one of the 8,200 Merit Scholarship7 awards, worth $34 million, that will be announced in spring 2008. The students entered the 2008 competition by taking the 2006 preliminary SAT/National Merit® Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).
Walther Lutheran High School Executive Director, Don Gillingham, declared, "In a class that already boasts 25 Illinois State Scholars, it is great to have one student who has achieved even more. This recognition could only have been earned through Megan’s hard work and the support of her classmates, teachers and family."
Walther Lutheran High School is a co-educational Christian school located at 9th and Chicago in Melrose Park. The school has an enrollment of just over 400 students from fifty-seven different Chicago area zip codes. For more information about Walther Lutheran High School, call 708.344.0404 or visit Walther.com.
Press Release contact: Lori Solyom, Public Information Coordinator
