Loyola Celebrates National Merit Scholars

Five members of Loyola’s Class of 2018 have been awarded 2018 National Merit Scholarships by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The NMSC honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
All winners of Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the finalist group based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments as demonstrated by their academic record, information about the school’s curriculum and grading system, test scores, the finalist’s own essay and more.  
 
These academically talented high school seniors secured five of the 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $33 million that will be awarded in the spring.
 
The Loyola community congratulates the following National Merit Scholars and members of the senior class:
 

Matthew E. Brun

Matthew Brun“One of the best parts of Loyola has been the community,” says Matthew E. Brun, who remembers easily finding his niche at Loyola through the band community. “From there, I met more and more interesting and kind people each year through my classes and cocurricular activities.” From band to the chess team, JETS/WYSE and mock trial to classes in advanced math and ancient Latin, Matthew credits Loyola with helping him “develop a well-rounded and informed sense of the world.” Matthew has volunteered at Madonna Mission where he tutors refugee grade school children and has participated in Engineering Projects in Community Service (E.P.I.C.S.), a Loyola service club that identifies needs within the community and addresses them with technical solutions. In college, he plans to study math and computer science and possibly pick up a minor in Classics. During his free time, he dabbles in computer programming and has written a handful of iOS apps. Most recently, Matthew wrote an app that enables Loyola teachers to input their free periods so students can view them. He will attend Rice University in the fall where he plans to study computational and applied mathematics with hopes of working in the technology industry.

Maximilian K. Calk

Maximilian CalkAn active member of the Loyola Academy Marching Band (LAMB) for four years, Maximilian K. Calk has recently been named band president, captain of the Basketball Pep Band and Drum Major—three honors that speak to his musical talent and his commitment to Loyola’s band program. And, for the third consecutive year, Maximilian will serve as a member of the pit orchestra for this year’s spring musical, Little Women. While music has provided a creative outlet for Maximilian to excel, he plans to pursue degrees in both mathematics and business. “I have a special interest in sports statistics and data,” he says. “I dream of one day working in the front office of a professional sports team.” It comes as no surprise, then, that some of his favorite classes at Loyola have been statistics with Mr. Brabeck, calculus with Ms. Thelander and microeconomics with Ms. Wysocki. “I credit Loyola for helping me realize my interest in statistics and economics and giving me opportunities to serve the less fortunate,” he notes. Maximilian called his urban plunge summer service trip to Cincinnati, volunteering at a soup kitchen and doing light home repair through Franciscans for the Poor, a valuable, eye-opening experience. He will study business at the University of Notre Dame next year.

Louisa M. Edwards

Louisa Edwards“My experience at Loyola has helped me to try new things and given me leadership roles,” says student-athlete Louisa M. Edwards, who has spent four years on the cross-country, track and field and basketball teams. “Most importantly, Loyola has provided me with opportunities to engage in service, which I think is really important.” Louisa volunteers at Sacred Heart Convent in Wilmette where she socializes with and serves dinner to retired nuns. She’s also a student leader of Pax Christi at Loyola and spent part of her summer in West Virginia on a service trip. In the classroom, Louisa’s favorite class was AP Chemistry with Ms. Michels, and she is a member of the French Honor Society. At the University of Virginia, Louisa plans to continue to foster her diverse interests. “I'm undecided about what I want to major in, but I want to study a wide variety of topics—math, writing, science, health, computer science and maybe French or Spanish."

Emily M. Molins

Emily MolinsEmily M. Molins is a dedicated student-athlete who strives for excellence both in and out of the classroom. “Loyola has been a place where I can balance academics with athletics,” she says. A three-year member of the girls’ varsity rowing team, Emily balances her time between practice, a demanding course load and a number of cocurriculars and hobbies. She is a Clavius Scholar and member of Pax Christi and participates on the Moody’s Mega Math (M3) challenge team. In the fall, Emily will attend Stanford University where she will row on the lightweight women’s crew team.

Jason W. Vrbancic

Jason Vrbancic“Loyola has offered everything I could ask for in terms of academics, athletics and cocurriculars,” says Jason W. Vrbancic, who has learned to balance his time as a four-year baseball player with a science-heavy course load, service work at Sunrise Senior Assisted Living and Madonna Mission and as a member of Loyola’s Pax Christi. A Clavius Scholar, Jason developed a passion for science in classes like AP Biology with Mrs. Gina Gnoffo and AP Physics C with Mr. Steven Lowe. “Both courses have been difficult, but I relish the challenges they have put in front of me,” he says. In the fall, Jason will study molecular engineering at the University of Chicago.


In addition, Loyola is proud to recognize the following National Merit Finalists:

Henry J. Kroeger
Merrill D. O’Shaughnessy
Gina Yoo
 
In addition, Loyola is proud to recognize the following National Merit Commended students:

Alan Arocho
Daniel Brennan
Stephanie Collins
Peter D’Arrigo
Mary Donnelly
Barbara Harlan
Caroline Heffernan
Elena Kittle-Kamp
Mohammed Manzoor
Elizabeth McAndrew
Brenna McCarthy
Quinn McCarthy
Patrick Murray
Ngozi Okoli
Kelly Paquin
Luke Phillips
Madeline Quackenbush
Brendan Schafer
Andrea Scheidt
Peter Schlax
Jack Serio
Ernest Torain
Tessa Volpe
Nina Wetoska
John Williams
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