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Long Beach, MS – Long Beach High School seniors Grace Lefort, Justin Mares, and Aubrey Pingul have all been named National Merit Finalists.
The National Merit Scholarship Program which began in 1955 is an annual academic competition for scholarships. The program is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance.
From a beginning pool of 50,000 students, some 16,000 of them are named Semifinalists. Students who qualify as Semifinalists then have an opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships. About 6,870 of the outstanding Finalists will be chosen as Merit Scholarship® winners in the 2025 competition.
“I am incredibly proud to congratulate our three outstanding students from Long Beach High School on being named National Merit Finalists,” said LBSD Superintendent Dr. Talia Lock.
“This prestigious recognition is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and academic excellence. Their achievements not only reflect their individual talents but also the supportive environment fostered by our dedicated teachers and staff. We celebrate their success and look forward to seeing the remarkable contributions they will continue to make in the future.”
Grace Lefort is the daughter of Brooke and Greg Lefort. After high school, she plans to attend a four-year university in California to earn her BFA in Musical Theatre. Grace’s long-term plans are to work in the theatre industry as an actor or technician.
Justin Mares is the son of Jeremy and Christina Mares. After high school, he hopes to attend Tulane University to obtain his undergraduate degree before attending medical school. Justin’s long-term goals are to complete medical school and work in his fields of interest, surgery and cardiology.
Aubrey Pingul is the daughter of Kevin and Emily Pingul. After high school, she plans to attend Mississippi State University to obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Her long-term goal is to be able to look back on her life and experiences and be proud of what she has done and where she has gone.
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