Two Dallas ISD students have beaten the odds, earning prestigious National Merit Scholarships from a pool of 1.3 million applicants nationwide.
Samuel H. and Cami S., graduates of the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, secured spots among just 2,900 winners this year.
The achievement places these students in rarefied company — fewer than one percent of high school seniors receive this honor. The awards, ranging from $500 to $2,000 annually, can be renewed for up to four years of undergraduate study.
Samuel, who attended the School of Science and Engineering, plans to study physics at the University of Texas at Dallas. Cami, a graduate of the School for the Talented and Gifted (TAG), will pursue biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University.
Arnold Zuñiga, principal of Townview TAG, praised Cami’s accomplishment as evidence of exceptional character.
“This recognition tells me that Cami demonstrated remarkable discipline and focus — qualities that go beyond intelligence alone,” Zuñiga said.
“It shows that she met challenges head-on, often balancing academics with extracurricular and community involvement, all while maintaining a high level of performance.”
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will announce additional recipients in July. For now, these two Dallas students stand as examples of academic excellence in a highly competitive field.