DoDEA HQ Office of Communications

4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350-1400

The DoDEA Communications Office initiates and manages DoDEA's communications and outreach efforts worldwide. The office coordinates press relations, internal information programs and communication with students, parents, teachers, school administrators and the public.

The HQ Communications Office:

Issues news releases and media advisories about DoDEA initiatives, employees and programs Produces video and television promotional and informational products marketed worldwide Maintains the DoDEA web site Designs printed promotional and informational material and graphic artwork to accompany publications, promotions and initiatives

For Immediate Release — September 18, 2009 | HQ
: DoDEA Educational Communications Officer | (703) 588-3260   •   : DoDEA Educational Communications Officer | (703) 588-3265

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA — September 18, 2009 — Six Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) students were named as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

The students, who are high school seniors, have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $35 million that will be offered in Spring 2010. The DoDEA students were part of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists selected for the National Merit Scholarship Program, now in its 55th year.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition, including taking the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) which serves as an initial screen of program entrants.

DoDEA National Merit Semifinalists are:

  • Scott LaBelle, Brussels American School
  • Shannon Grammel, Heidelberg High School (Now at Ft Campbell High School)
  • Derrick B. Lewis, Ramstein High School
  • Stella Y. Cho, Seoul American High School
  • Emily M. Hoyle, Guam High School
  • Alexander M. Koenig, Berlin Brandenburg International School (Now at Naples High School)

To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test. The Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student's self-descriptive essay and information about the Semifinalist's participation and leadership in school and community activities.

Approximately 16,000 Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level and all National Merit Scholarship winners will be chosen from this group. Three types of National Merit Scholarship awards will be offered in Spring 2010. National Merit Scholarship winners for 2010 will be announced in four news releases from April through July.

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality, public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, the United States, Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.

For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit their website at: http://www.nationalmerit.org.