Congratulations college-sponsored merit scholarship winners

The Peoria Unified School District is proud to celebrate four recent graduates who were named College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Winners by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. The four recent scholarship winners are:

  • Sasha Tijore, Ironwood High School, attending Arizona State University

  • Daniel Wirt, Ironwood High School, attending University of Tulsa

  • Tammy Le, Sunrise Mountain High School, attending University of Arizona

  • Gunnar Sammons, Centennial High School, attending Arizona State University

Each of these students entered the National Merit Scholarship Program when they took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in 2023. From the group of semifinalists, around 15,000 were named finalists and half of those finalists are Merit Scholarship winners, including four of Peoria Unified’s own.

“The recognition of these students is a testament to the exceptional learning and teaching happening across Peoria Unified,” said Superintendent Dr. K.C. Somers. “Through collaborative planning, enriched curriculum, and high-quality instruction, our students gain the skills they need to thrive in college and their career. These four scholars, along with all of Peoria Unified’s students, exemplify what it means to live out our vision of Every Student, Every Day, Prepared to Shape Tomorrow.”

To learn more about the achievements of students in Peoria Unified, visit peoriaunified.org.