Riverside Community School District

CARSON, IA — Riverside High School Senior Abe Schechinger has been honored as a finalist in the 2024 National Merit Scholar Program. Schechinger is an integral part of the Riverside High School community, actively engaging in a number of extracurricular activities. He is active with the swim team, National Honor Society, soccer, RSTN, jazz band, and various other clubs and organizations. Expressing his aspirations for the future, Schechinger intends to pursue higher education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and hopes to someday work for NASA. “We are incredibly proud of Abe and the hard work and dedication he has shown with everything he is involved with at Riverside High School,” said Dr. Stephanie Anderson, Superintendent of the Riverside Community School District. “Being named a finalist in this prestigious national program is a reflection of Abe’s skill, talent, and commitment to excellence. This recognition is a big point of pride for our entire community.” Being recognized as a National Merit Scholar Program finalist places Schechinger among an elite group of over 15,000 students nationwide, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school graduating seniors. The program offers scholarships underwritten by approximately 320 independent sponsor organizations and institutions. While the competition is fierce, with limited scholarship funds available, Schechinger stands poised to compete for a highly sought-after Merit Scholarship award. In 2024, three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered, with finalists eligible for only one award. These include single-payment National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards, and college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards. Recipients of National Merit Scholarship awards will be notified in March. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.nationalmerit.org.