ICSD Senior Named National Merit Rockwell Collins Scholarship Winner

May 19, 2016 (Independence, IA) – The Independence Community School District (ICSD) is honored to announce that local Senior, Ross Thedens, has been selected as the National Merit Rockwell Collins Scholarship Winner.

Thedens, announced as a semi-finalist last fall after scoring in the top 1% of all the juniors who took the P-SAT in the country, fulfilled the requirements needed to advance to the finalist level of the assessment in February. Typically about half of the students that reach finalists status will be chosen as National Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

Ross was chosen to receive the National Merit Rockwell Collins Scholarship. Rockwell Collins is a world leader in the design, production and support of communications and aviation electronics solutions for government and commercial customers worldwide. The Rockwell Collins Charitable Corporation sponsors Merit Scholarship awards for children of Rockwell Collins employees and its subsidiaries. The Charitable Corporation’s priorities include education and arts and culture in order to help strengthen the quality of education and provide opportunities for youth involvement and leadership. Corporate sponsors, like Rockwell Collins, designate their awards for children of their employees or members, for residents of a community where a company has operations, or for Finalists with career plans the sponsor wishes to encourage.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation chooses the scholarship winners by evaluating a variety of academic data. Items taken into consideration include: the finalist’s academic record, information about the school’s curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, the high school official’s written recommendation, information about the finalist’s activities and leadership, and a personal essay.

Principal Howard states, “Ross has proven, throughout the course of his high school career, to be one of our top students. He is passionate, dedicated and willing to sacrifice to achieve in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities. As the principal, I am grateful for all his work and proud of his success.”

For more information on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, visit their website at www.nationalmerit.org

Senior, Ross Thedens, named as National Merit Rockwell Collins Scholarship Winner.

###

Media Contact
Fusion Forward
319.334.9300