Seniors Rina Jeong, Dominic Ford, and Zachary Ford Named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program

Mr. Paul Houston, Principal of Providence Catholic High School, is pleased to announce that seniors Rina Jeong, Dominic Ford, and Zachary Ford have been named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.

“This is an extremely significant honor for Rina, Dominic, and Zach. Their academic success has paved the way for their recognition in this highly competitive program,” says Houston. “They have put in a great amount of work on their studies and are leaders to the Providence community. We congratulate them on this achievement.”

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships that began in 1955. Over 1.3 million students in about 21,000 high schools enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program each year. Approximately 34,000 of the 50,000 high scorers in each annual National Merit Scholarship Program are named Commended Students.

Dominic Ford is the son of Laurie and Mike Ford of Mokena, Illinois. He is a graduate of St. Mary Catholic School Mokena, where he is also a parishioner. Dominic is a member of Student Council, the Math Team, and Stock Market Club. He also serves as a Sacristan, in addition to being inducted into the National Honor Society. He has been involved in baseball and basketball during his time at Providence Catholic. He and his brother, fellow awardee Zachary Ford, also founded a Chess Club at the Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Association (LWSRA). “This award is meaningful to me because it serves as a validation for the hard work I have put in within the classroom. Such recognition opens the door to significant scholarship opportunities which can be a great asset for my future, and it motivates me to push myself further in my education,” says Dominic, who is leaning towards studying engineering or business. “Providence has made an indelible mark on my academic and faith life, and has armed me with skills that will pay dividends for a long time. Each teacher I have had at Providence has helped me along the way. I am grateful for everyone who has had an impact on my life. I especially want to thank my mom and dad for all they do for me.”

Zachary Ford is the son of Laurie and Mike Ford of Mokena, Illinois. He is a graduate of St. Mary Catholic School Mokena, where he is also a parishioner. Zachary is a member of the basketball team, as well as Student Council, Augustinian Youth Ministry, Math Club, and Chess Club. He has also been inducted into the National Honor Society. He and his brother, fellow awardee Dominic Ford, founded a Chess Club at the Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Association (LWSRA). “This award can open doors for me in regards to scholarship opportunities, so my future education can be more affordable,” says Zachary, who is leaning towards studying psychology or engineering. “I hope this inspires other students to aim high and work hard to accomplish any academic or athletic goals that they may have, while also remembering that awards and achievements do not define who they are. I would like to thank my parents for loving and supporting me, and all my teachers for their kindness, dedication, and hard work.”

Rina Jeong is the daughter of Mrs. Hana Lee and Mr. Yiseon Jeong. Rina, an international student at Providence Catholic, is an active member of the community. She participates in various clubs and sports, including Augustinian Youth Ministry, Habitat for Humanity, the Math Team, and International Club. She has been inducted into the National Honor Society, and is also a member of the Tennis and Track and Field teams. “Studying for the PSAT and SAT tests significantly improved my English reading, comprehension, and analyzing skills,” says Rina, who plans to pursue studies in pre-med, with a double major in anthropology and chemistry/biology. “Although I appreciate all the help from teachers at Providence, I especially want to thank Ms. Gura and Mrs. Stoub, whose support enabled my English to improve immensely, as well as Mrs. Cichoracki, who influenced my interest in new academic subjects, especially in the science field. I am always grateful for the opportunity to study abroad and for the unconditional support from my parents back in South Korea. Without them, I would not have had the opportunities I have.”