Kennedy’s Arthur Colvin is a National Merit Scholar

Kennedy High School senior Arthur Colvin is the recipient of a college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship. Colvin is one of 72 Minnesota students among 3,600 high school seniors across the country to receive a college-sponsored scholarship. Colvin’s scholarship is sponsored by the University of Minnesota, where he plans to attend to study mechanical engineering.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition recognizing outstanding students based on their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in college. The selection process for this year’s scholarships began in 2023 when more than 1.3 million students entered the program as juniors by taking the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) exam, which serves as the initial screening of program entrants. Bloomington Public Schools (BPS) offers all juniors the opportunity to take the PSAT during the school day; nearly 200 BPS students take the PSAT each fall.

The college-sponsored awards are the latest round of awards announced in the program. In May, recipients of National Merit $2,500 Scholarships were announced, which included Jefferson senior Owen Woods.

Colvin, Woods, and other scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors. Students were judged on their academic record, PSAT scores, leadership in school, and community activities.