Johnson named Singletary and National Merit Scholar

Deron Lucas Johnson, of Corbin, has been named an Otis A. Singletary Scholar and a National Merit Scholar.

Johnson, the son of Dale and Lisa Johnson, is a graduate of Corbin High School and was one of 27 high school seniors to be named a Singletary Scholar for Fall 2009 at the University of Kentucky. The Singletary Scholarship is the most prestigious four-year scholarship awarded by the University of Kentucky.

The scholarship which is named for former UK President Otis A. Singletary, began in 1985 and covers the full cost of tuition, room and board, and a personal stipend for four years of undergraduate study. The scholarship is valued at approximately $63,000.

The Fall 2009 Singletary Scholars were selected from 535 eligible candidates and include 10 National Merit Finalists, 11 valedictorians, 24 Kentucky Governor’s Scholars and three Governor’s School for the Arts alumni.

“Once again, our Singletary Scholars program was able to attract some of the most academically talented students in the nation,” said UK President Lee. T. Todd Jr. “Maybe most impressive about this year’s class, however, is the fact that all 27 scholars are from right here in the Commonwealth. I think that speaks to the university’s commitment to keeping our best minds in Kentucky.”

To be eligible, students must score 31 or higher on the ACT or 1360 combined math and critical reading scores on the SAT, and have a minimum high school grade point average of 3.75. The selection committee also considers extracurricular activities, work and volunteer responsibilities,  leadership involvement, a written essay and a personal interview.

Johnson was also named a National Merit Scholar, one of 45 from Kentucky.

Officials of each sponsor college selected their winners from among finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program who will attend their institution. College-sponsored awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

2009 National Merit Scholars total approximately 8,300. These distinguished high school graduates will receive scholarships for undergraduate study worth a total of $36 million.

Established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program, NMSC is a not-for-profit corporation that operates without government assistance. Over the past 54 years, more that 267,000 outstanding young men and women have won National Merit Scholarships worth over $931 million. The majority of awards each year are underwritten by approximately 500 independent corporate and college sponsors that support NMSC’s efforts to recognize scholastically talented youth and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.