National Achievement Scholarship Winners Named

Billy J. Gist, a senior at J. L. Mann High Academy, and Keitavious E. Walk, a senior at Mauldin High, have been named recipients of a National Achievement $2,500 Scholarship by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Billy plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, and Keitavious plans to pursue a career in political science.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program is a privately financed academic competition established in 1964 specifically to honor scholastically talented Black American youth and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding participants in each annual competition.

By the conclusion of the 2015 program, about 34,200 participants will have received scholarships for undergraduate study worth about $108 million. The program is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance.

Achievement Scholar awardees are the Finalist candidates judged to have the strongest record of accomplishments and greatest potential for academic success in college.