Claire Kent and Margo Bruce

Claire Kent and Margo Bruce, FCHS Principal

PRESS RELEASE – October 2, 2019

Margo Bruce, Principal at Fluvanna County High School, announced today that FCHS senior, Claire Kent, has been named a Commended Student in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.  A Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, was presented to Claire.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.  Although they will not continue in the 2020 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2020 competition by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson from NMSC.  “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation.  We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

Claire is the daughter of Fredrick and Dee Dee Kent of Palmyra, Virginia.  She is a member of the academic team and co-founder of the Trebuchet Club.  She is a Virginia Space Coast Scholar, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholar.  Claire is an avid ballet dancer and is a member of the Brushwood School of Dance Premier Performance group.  She works at Cuppa Joe Café and also enjoys playing the guitar.

Claire joins a list of academically talented students from Fluvanna County High School who have received National Merit Recognition including:

Liam Bridge (2018)- National Merit Commended, York College of Pennsylvania

Bayley Leshon (2018)- National Merit Commended, College of William and Mary

Harrison Lee (2017)- National Merit Finalist, Carnegie Melon Institute

Jonathan Corbin (2016)- National Merit Finalist, U.S. Naval Academy

For additional information about PSAT testing at the High School, contact Angie Blevins, School Testing Coordinator at ablevins@apps.fluco.org or 434-589-3666.

For additional information about the National Merit Scholarship Program, contact Brenda Gilliam, Executive Director for Instruction and Finance at bgilliam@apps.fluco.org or 434-589-8208.

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