The Peoria Unified School District recently celebrated four recent graduates who were named College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Winners by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

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 in 2023.

From the group of semifinalists, around 15,000 were named finalists and half of those finalists are Merit Scholarship winners, including four from PUSD.

“The recognition of these students is a testament to the exceptional learning and teaching happening across Peoria Unified,” stated Superintendent Dr. K.C. Somers in a press release. “Through collaborative planning, enriched curriculum, and high-quality instruction, our students gain the skills they need to thrive in college and their career.”

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