Willowbrook senior named as finalist in 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program

Willowbrook senior Tyler Rusnak has been named as a finalist in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program.

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), Rusnak now has the opportunity to earn a National Merit Scholarship this spring. To become a finalist, Rusnak had to submit a detailed scholarship application that provided information about his academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards he has received.

About 1.4 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Rusnak scored a 221 out of a possible 240 on the PSAT/NMSQT. He also received a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, a national college admissions exam.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered this spring, and recipients will be announced between April and July.

• Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis.
• About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by about 240 corporations and business organizations.
• About 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance about 4,100 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

Rusnak is a member of Willowbrook’s DECA Team, Math Team, National Honor Society, Civitas (the school’s social studies honor society), Scholastic Bowl, Key Club and Gay-Straight Alliance. He plans to study botany at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Carleton College or The University of Chicago.