BERKELEY SENIOR NAMED SEMIFINALIST IN 2008 NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT ® SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Walther Lutheran High School released news that Jasmyne McDonald of Berkeley has been named a National Achievement® Semifinalist in the National Achievement7 Scholarship Program. This honor is based on her scores on the 2006 preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

McDonald 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 Student Council and is a varsity cheerleader. She is editor of the school’s yearbook and serves on the staffs of the newspaper and aura, the school’s literary magazine. Jasmyne competes in forensics and WYSE (World Youth Science and Engineering) and is regularly on the Principal’s List Honor Roll. She appears in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and holds part-time jobs at Memorial Park District and the Berkeley Public Library.

Approximately 1,600 Black American high school seniors have been designated Semifinalists in the 44th annual Achievement Scholarship® competition. These scholastically talented youth are up for consideration as National Achievement® Scholars.

"Recognition of academically talented students and the key role played by schools in their development is essential to the pursuit of educational excellence in our nation," commented a spokesperson for NMSC. "The young people being named Semifinalists have demonstrated outstanding academic potential by their strong performance in this highly competitive program. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and that they will continue to pursue scholastic excellence."

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