By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
A Brandon senior is finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Sarah Pesta scored a 1,480 of 1,600 possible on her PSAT, which qualified her as a semi-finalist in her junior year, and now, after getting a 1,530 on her SAT, she is ranked as a finalist.
“Sarah is one of the finest students to ever come through Brandon High School,” said principal Dan Stevens. “She is a role model for all students and exemplifies what it means to be a Brandon Blackhawk.”
Of the 1.5 million students who take the PSATs, 50,000 qualify as a semi-finalist for the scholarship award. Of those 50,000, 16,000 are given finalist status. That puts Pesta in the top one percent of all test-takers in the country.
Pesta is also ranked as first in her class with a 4.4 grade point average, and her SAT score is the highest Stevens has ever seen from a BHS student. Scholarship winners will be announces in March.
“The national merit program is an extremely prestigious award, so I am very proud to have Brandon students in this exclusive group,” said Dr. Matt Outlaw. district superintendent.