PCHS Announces 2019 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

NEW LENOX – Dr. John Harper, Principal of Providence Catholic High School announced today that Derek Freeman (Joliet, IL) has been named a Semifinalist for the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Derek is a Joliet native and the son of Brent and Monique Freeman. He is a member of Holy Family Parish in Shorewood and a graduate of Holy Family School in Shorewood. Derek is a member of the Computer Club, Strategic Games Club, Law Club, Science Club, Movie Club, and Manga Club. He is also a part of the Mock Trial Team, Match Team, Student Council, Augustinian Youth Ministry, National Honor Society and serves as a Sacristan.

Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporations (NMSC) named approximately, 16,000 Semifinalist in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalist must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalist are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalist will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar Title.

Derek Freeman currently holds a 4.66 GPA and 35 ACT. He plans to major in Computer Science and attend Purdue University, University of Illinois Urbana, or the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2019 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These Scholarship recipients will join some 338,000-other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar Title.

Providence Catholic is a co-educational, college preparatory Augustinian High School located on 75 acres in New Lenox. One-hundred percent of the Class of 2018 will continue their education at a college or university. Scholarships valued at nearly $40 million were offered to this class. Fifty-one of these graduates were named Illinois State Scholars. These seniors volunteered in excess of 100,000 hours of community service during their high school careers. Fourteen percent of student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent or made commitments to continue their respective sports at the collegiate level. In addition, this class witnessed many athletic accomplishments, including four state championship trophies earned by the Celtic baseball teams (2014, 2015, 2016) and football team (2014). Providence Catholic now has 30 state championship titles; the most among private high schools in the state of Illinois.

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Kathleen E. Kennedy
Director of Communications

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