St. Ursula Academy senior is National Merit finalist and National Achievement Scholarship recipient

St. Ursula Academy senior Candace Kirksey has been selected as the winner of a National Achievement® $2500 Scholarship. The daughter of Dr. Sanford and Karen Kirksey of Forest Park, Kirksey also is one of seven National Merit finalists at St. Ursula Academy this year. The others include Leah Baker, daughter of Barbara Baker of Independence, Ky., Tierney Coleman, daughter of Edward and Stacy Coleman of Loveland, Laura Frankenfeld, daughter of Paul and Kristin Frankenfeld of White Oak, Sarah Grogan, daughter of Dr. Dennis and Colleen Grogan of Finneytown, Margaret Millea, daughter of Patrick and Anne Millea of Delhi, and Sloan Thacker, daughter of Dr. James and Mary Thacker of Anderson Twp.

Kirksey is the winner of one of 700 National Achievement® $2599 Scholarships and approximately 100 corporate-sponsored Achievement Scholarship awards that will be announced nationwide. As a student who achieved Finalist standing in this academic competition Kirksey was considered for one of the National Achievement® $2500 Scholarships. These one-time scholarships are offered on a regional representation basis, in numbers based on the region’s total of Black Americans. The National Achievement Scholarship Program is conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), and this Scholarship is underwritten by NMSC with its own funds. More than 140,000 students who took the 2006 PSAT/NMSQT® entered the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program and also requested consideration in the National Achievement Program, in which only Black Americans participate. All winners of more than 800 National Achievement Scholarships, worth about $2.7 million, are being chosen from the group of outstanding Finalists.

St. Ursula Academy is a Catholic, college-preparatory, secondary school for young women.  In 2002 the academy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. The campus, located at 1339 E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills has been the home of St. Ursula Academy and Convent since 1910.