(05/13/2022) Blaine High School - Center for Engineering, Mathematics and Science (BHS) senior Carter Anderson has earned one of the top honors for a graduating senior, as he was named a National Merit Scholar on May 11 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®). 

With the distinction, he was awarded a $2,500 scholarship. The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Anderson was one of 45 winners from Minnesota. 

Conor Jolly from Andover High School and Claire Koch from Champlin Park High School - International Baccalaureate Programme (CPHS) were also finalists from Anoka-Hennepin Schools. 

In addition to high academic achievements during his high school career, last fall Anderson was named the state president of the Minnesota Business Professionals of America.

National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

The Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

In June and July, about 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners will be announced. By the conclusion of this year’s competition, about 7,500 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $28 million.