Release Date: 5/2/2008

Contact: Diana L. Spencer, 410-887-4243

Seniors honored for academics, ethics at annual BCPS ceremony

TOWSON, MD. (May 2, 2008) - In an overflowing hotel ballroom in Timonium, before a cheering crowd of family, friends, and administrators, 63 seniors from all 25 Baltimore County Public Schools high schools were recognized for their achievements as National Merit Scholars, National Achievement Scholars, and Ethics Award winners.

Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston called the 2008 Merit and Ethics Awards Ceremony, held on May 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, a "very symbolic night" and said that the honored students demonstrated that it was possible to reach the "world-class standards" established by the school system's Blueprint for Progress.

JoAnn C. Murphy, president of the Baltimore County Board of Education, said that the Board was very proud of the students, "because you excel academically and because you excel as ethical and involved human beings." She urged each graduate to find something he or she is passionate about and to make that his or her career. She added, "My fellow Board members and I are passionate about student achievement and progress."

Among the honored students were two Baltimore County Young Women of the Year, one Maryland Woman of Tomorrow, many students who earned perfect scores on portions of the SAT, several students with 4.0 grade point averages, winners of local, state, and regional competitions in speech, writing, Latin, robotics, and other fields, as well as accomplished musicians and artists and champion athletes.

Near the conclusion of the ceremony, the principal of each of Baltimore County's 25 high schools introduced the winner of that school's Ethics Award. Before presenting the award to the student from his school, Sparrows Point High School Principal Robert Santacroce noted that this year's award's ceremony was honoring a particularly strong group of students. "You are reminding me of why I am an educator," he said. "Thank you."

Following is a list of students honored at the ceremony. If available, the name of the college the student plans to attend is indicated.

2008 National Achievement Scholars from BCPS

Anna-Lisa M., Catonsville High School (Brandeis University)

Olivia T., Catonsville High School

Kenay S., Catonsville High School

Jill Y., Catonsville High School (Johns Hopkins University)

Cameron C., Catonsville High School (Princeton University)

Charles W., Eastern Technical High School (University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business)

Christopher O., Franklin High School (University of Connecticut)

Gieselle A., George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology (University of South Carolina)

2008 National Merit Scholars from BCPS

William F., Catonsville High School (Cornell University)

Melissa G., Catonsville High School (University of Notre Dame)

Kelly K., Catonsville High School (Northwestern University)

Kendall M., Catonsville High School

Douglass N., Catonsville High School (Princeton University)

Courtney N., Catonsville High School

Neal R., Catonsville High School

Edward W., Catonsville High School (University of South Carolina)

Corey B., Dulaney High School (Northwestern University)

Katherine G., Dulaney High School (New York University)

Yang H., Dulaney High School (Columbia University)

Jordan K., Dulaney High School (Virginia Tech)

Caitlin S., Dulaney High School (Kenyon College)

Richard T., Dulaney High School (University of Maryland College Park)

Jillian C., Franklin High School (University of Maryland College Park - Gemstone Program)

Todd N., Eastern Technical High School (St. Mary's College)

Zachary C., George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology (University of Chicago)

Jennifer D., Hereford High School (Princeton University)

Huayu D., Loch Raven High School (Columbia University)

Andrew D., Loch Raven High School (Virginia Tech)

Sara H., Loch Raven High School (Princeton University)

Joseph W., Loch Raven High School (George Washington University)

Ryan D. , Owings Mills High School (University of Maryland College Park)

Kendall R. , Parkville High School

Patrick B., Perry Hall High School (Penn State)

Logan A., Pikesville High School (University of Maryland College Park)

Clifton J., Towson High School (Johns Hopkins University)

Annemarie M., Towson High School

Amalie T., Towson High School (Harvard University)

2008 BCPS Ethics Award Winners

Kenay S., Catonsville High School (The College of William and Mary)

Olusola S., Chesapeake High School (Lebanon College)

Bridget C., Dulaney High School (The College of William and Mary)

Melanie D., Dundalk High School (Shepherd University)

Brandee S., Eastern Technical High School

Samantha R., Franklin High School (University of Maryland College Park - Gemstone Program)

Gabriella B., George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology (Yale University)

Madelyn S., Hereford High School (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Marc J., Kenwood High School

Kelly F., Lansdowne High School (Villa Julie College)

Erica B., Loch Raven High School (Towson University)

Brandon C., Milford Mill Academy (Philadelphia University)

Stephanie S., New Town High School (The College of New Jersey)

Lindsay F., Overlea High School

Jared L., Owings Mills High School (University of Maryland College Park)

Julius D., Parkville High School (University of Pennsylvania)

Kiranjit K., Patapsco High School (University of Maryland College Park)

Sheldon F., Perry Hall High School

Stephen F., Pikesville High School (University of Illinois)

Amber R., Randallstown High School

Justin R., Sollers Point Technical High School (Johnson and Wales University)

Theresa C., Sparrows Point High School

Matthew C., Towson High School (Salisbury College)

Laura H., Western School of Technology

Chayla F., Woodlawn High School

2008 National Merit Scholars and National Achievement Scholars were selected through a process that begins with identification through the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

More than 1.4 million juniors in over 21,000 high schools entered the 2008 National Merit Scholarship competition. The highest-scoring entrants in each state - representing less than one percent of a state's seniors - were selected to create a pool of some 16,000 semifinalists. To advance to finalist standing, semifinalists had to submit detailed scholarship applications, have outstanding academic records, be recommended by their schools, and earn strong SAT scores. Approximately 15,000 semifinalists met finalist requirements. By the conclusion of the 2008 competition, about 8,200 finalists will be selected to receive National Merit Scholarships totaling more than $36 million.

The National Achievement Scholarship program, for outstanding African American students, began with an initial pool of more than 140,000 students. In September 2007, approximately 1,600 of the highest scorers were named semifinalists on a regional representation basis. Some 1,300 semifinalists advanced to the finalist level based on their academic records, school recommendations, high SAT scores, and personal essays. The National Achievement Program is a privately financed academic competition established in 1964. The 2008 program marks 44 annual competitions in which more than 28,700 participants will have received scholarships worth approximately $91 million.

The Ethics Awards, presented annually since 1986, originated from a Baltimore County Public Schools task force on character education. These awards are given to the senior from each high school, who in the judgment of the school's administration and faculty, best demonstrates principles and values such as citizenship, honesty, fairness, respect, compassion, civility, and integrity. It is often described by school system leaders as the highest honor the school system bestows.

The 2008 Merit and Ethics Award Recognition Ceremony was taped by The Education Channel of Baltimore County Public Schools and can be viewed on Comcast Channel 73 at 7:00 p.m. on May 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, and 31 and June 1, and at 3:00 a.m. on May 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, and 30.

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