NCHS’s Allen named a finalist in National Merit Scholarship program

Lori Allen, a senior at Nelson County High School, has been selected as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship program. Photo by Tom Dekle.

STAFF REPORT

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, 4:30 p.m. — Nelson County High School senior Lori Allen has been named a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship program.

“This is a huge deal and we are thrilled for her,” said NCHS Principal Shelly Hendricks about the honor.

Nelson County Schools Superintendent Anthony Orr described the honor as a “game changer for kids … she is in the driver’s seat now. The opportunities will seek her out.”

For her part, Allen said she was “really excited” about the news, but is also really happy that a process that started two years ago has finally come to a conclusion – and a good one at that.

The process started when she took the PSAT test as a sophomore. After that, Allen said, “there has always been a next step. Now there’s not a next step. I just get to go to college.”

“I’m at the point where I get to reap the benefits of past hard work. I plan to enjoy the last few months (of high school). I’m on the last hill.”

Similar to the more familiar ACT, the P (preliminary) SAT is used as a national qualifier that starts potential National Merit Scholarship applicants on the application process.

In Kentucky, in 2012, there were 11,250 program entrants. That number was eventually winnowed to just 199 Kentucky semifinalists. Out of 16,000 semifinalists, just 8,000 have now become finalists, nationwide.

“A lot of hard work led up to this,” Hendricks said. “Being a semifinalist, that in itself is a distinct honor. For her now to be a finalist is a definite honor and privilege. In the state of Kentucky, we’re talking about a small handful of students.”

“Clearly, she is about to come into full blossom as a scholar. We’re glad the Nelson County Schools and our staff were part of the soil she was nurtured in,” Orr said.

Allen is the daughter of Jack and Dr. Lisa Allen of Bardstown. This past summer she studied astronomy at Bellarmine University as a Governor’s Scholar, a highly competitive summer program that involves five weeks of study at one of three participating Kentucky colleges or universities.

Allen, the NCHS Student Council president, is a 4.0 student, a member of the NCHS academic team, FCA, Cardinal Theater, yearbook staff and National Honor Society. Extracurricular activities also include the Parkway Baptist Church Youth Group and the Parkway Baptist worship staff.

Allen plans to attend the University of Kentucky but has decided to “leave her options open” and has not declared a major.

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