Two Marion teens recognized by National Merit Scholarship Program

Ocala StarBanner | by Joe Callahan | May 31, 2021

Two Marion County students have been honored by National Merit Scholarship Program, which honors students who score in the top 3 percent of 1.5 million entrants from 21,000 high schools.

Both finalists are enrolled at Vanguard High School. They are Mahan Miryala, 17, and Andy Shar, 15.

The 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program will award $30 million in college scholarships to about 7,600 students.

High school students enter the program by taking the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) and a National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which are both used to screen the entrants.

The website for the National Merit Scholarship Corp., which oversees the program, says the winners are chosen based on academic record, the school’s curriculum and grading system, and two sets of test scores.

Each student must submit an official written recommendation and information about his or her activities and leadership. The student must also submit an essay. There are three types of scholarships, which are awarded between March and mid-June. Those are:

• National Merit $2,500 Scholarships: All finalists compete for single-payment scholarships, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice or major and career plans.

• Corporate-sponsored scholarship awards: Corporate sponsors designate scholarships for children of employees, for residents of the company’s community, or for finalists with career plans that company officials want to encourage. These scholarships may either be renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.

• College-sponsored scholarship awards: These awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Students who are not deemed finalists can still qualify for financial help. Every year some 1,200 of those participants are awarded special scholarships.

To be considered for a special scholarship, students must meet the sponsor’s criteria and entry requirements of the National Merit Scholarship Program. They also must submit an entry form to the sponsor organization.Here is a brief synopsis (supplied by the graduate) of the two local semifinalists:

Mahan Miryala

Age:  17

Parents: He is the son of Vinod and Ani Miryala, Ocala

Schools: The Villages Charter Elementary School, The Villages Charter Middle School and Vanguard High.

Activities: Varsity soccer, varsity golf, student government, president of Future Business Leaders of America.

University: Honors Program at University of Florida 

Major: Pre-medicine

Career goal: “My goal is to enter into the UF Medical Honors Program after my first year of undergraduate studies and finish medical school within 7 years. I ultimately want to have a career as an orthopedic surgeon.”

High school experience: “My favorite part of Vanguard was definitely spending time with the friends that I made there. We constantly had fun, both outside and during school. I will forever hold the memories of playing basketball with my friends every weekend at Jervey Gantt Park.

Andy Shar

Age:  15

Parents: Son of Htun Tin Shar and Ma Thuzar Aung of Ocala.  

Schools: The Villages Charter Elementary School, The Villages Charter Middle School and Vanguard High.

Activities: Chemistry Club, Science National Honor Society, Academic Team, National Honor Society.

University: Virginia Commonwealth University

Major: Chemistry (biochemistry)

Career goal: Physician

Comments:  “My experiences with medical volunteering and shadowing have helped shaped my career goal of becoming a physician. I believe this career would allow me to give back to my community and advance the physical and mental well-being of others.

Being able to make new friends through the IB program and participating in extracurricular activities was a key part of my high school experience. I also enjoyed learning from teachers who were passionate about what they taught and made classes both fun and informative.”