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CHS senior and National Merit Scholar award winner Aiden Dai. PHOTO/CELEBRATION HIGH SCHOOL -
CHS senior and National Merit Scholar award winner Aiden Dai. PHOTO/CELEBRATION HIGH SCHOOL -
Celebration High senior Aiden Dai (second from left, inset) was one of three National Merit Scholar finalists, pictured with CHS Principal Chris Todd. PHOTO/CELEBRATION HIGH SCHOOL
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced that Aiden Dai of Celebration High School is among the first group of winners in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Dai, a senior who lists medicine as a probable career field, was one of five CHS students named to the semifinalists list and three finalists, but was the only national winner in Osceola County.
Funding for these National Merit Scholarships is provided by corporate organizations; Dai has earned a scholarship sponsored by Walgreens Corporation.
Approximately 770 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 94 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations, the NMSC says.
Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study, depending on their collegiate academic performance, with stipends that ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. Recipients can use their awards at any accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.
Dai, who is moving on to the University of Florida this fall to study pre-med, with becoming a cardiologist in his heart, said it’s exciting to be the only NMS award winner in the county.
“I was pretty happy when I heard, my award released before everyone else,” he said. “I’m excited to go to UF and start a new chapter fresh. National Merit Scholar has actually helped me get another scholarship which will help pay for everything.”
Dai is in the top 10 percent of his CHS class, has played for the Storm’s tennis team and is also a drum major in the band.
“High school has been fun. I’ve done a lot, so I’m happy how it turned out,” said Dai, who also said he’s picked up playing the piano in spare time of late. “I’m looking forward to the opportunities in college and meeting former Celebration students who have gone to Gainesville. There’s going to be research opportunities and clubs there that are so different than the high school life, so the change of scenery is something I’m looking forward to.”
Dai comes from two pharmacist parents, so he’s been predisposed to the medical field—well, that and he admits he’s been “injury prone,” and wants to give back as a generational doctor.
“I’ve had so many great doctors, especially when they’ve come in and talked to me and make me feel better even if it’s not the best news,” he said. “I want to give back and give that sort of support to other people.”
Dai noted Celebration High’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Counsel Mary Sanchez as someone who’s helped him in his academic journey.
“She really helped a lot, dealing with all the IB kids at the same time is tough,” he said. Since 1955, more than 6,870 Finalists will have been selected to receive National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $26 million.
