Douglas National Merit finalists headed to UNR

Two Douglas High School National Merit Scholarship finalists, Bonnie Slocum and Justin Donat, have chosen to stay in Nevada and attend the University of Nevada, Reno.

The university is partnering with area high schools in ceremonies reminiscent of high school athletes' signing days to acknowledge the decision of the best and brightest scholars to attend Nevada.

Slocum, who is interested in studying English, and Donat, who is interested in chemical engineering, participated in a signing ceremony on Friday at Douglas High School with Principal Marty Swisher and University Provost Marc Johnson, among others.

UNR was officially notified of its approval for sponsorship status by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation last spring. Scholarships awarded through National Merit programs are regarded as some of the highest academic honors attainable by U.S. high school students.

UNR's student body currently includes 25 National Merit Scholars, the largest number ever enrolled at Nevada.

National Merit Scholars receive a $15,000 annual scholarship and Presidential Scholars receive a $5,000 annual scholarship funded through the university's scholarship and aid budget.

These scholars will also be the first in their university class of 2014 to receive the book chosen for the freshman Summer Scholars Program. Up to 2,500 incoming freshmen are expected to participate in the fourth-year program, which this summer will feature the Warren St. John book, "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference."

Nevada's land-grant university founded in 1874, UNR has an enrollment of nearly 17,000 students and is home to one the country's largest study-abroad programs and the state's medical school, and offers outreach and education programs in all Nevada counties. For more information, visit www.unr.edu.