Mother McAuley graduate Catherine Rogers has been named a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship Winner by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). She is one of 2,500 designees who were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Rogers is a Beverly/Morgan Park resident and graduate of St. John Fisher School.
With a grade point average of 4.49, Rogers earned the distinction of valedictorian for the McAuley class of 2018. Last year, Rogers earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. She will attend the University of Illinois where she plans to study engineering.
“The distinction of being selected as a National Merit Scholarship winner is the perfect capstone to Catherine’s Mother McAuley career,” said Eileen O’Reilly ’03, school principal. “Throughout her years at McAuley, Catherine’s academic success has been a testament to her drive to never settle for less than her best. As she moves into college and a career, I know that she will continue to set and achieve the impressive goals she sets for herself.”
National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.
Rogers is a Catherine McAuley Honors Scholar, a program which recognizes superior academic achievement. She also is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Junior Classical League, Student Ambassadors, Book Club, Math Macs and runs Cross Country and Track.
Her freshman year at McAuley, Rogers received the Sister Agatha O’Brien Memorial Scholarship which recognizes students who score in the top five percent on the High School Placement Test. She also was one of 16 students to receive the Tradition of Excellence Scholarship for legacy students.
