The State Scholar, the Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS) (no funds appropriated) and the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship programs [collectively referred to as the High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP)] are awarded to high school seniors based on ACT or SAT test scores and the sixth semester* class rank, class size and unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA).
ISAC gathers student data during one academic year that is used in making student awards for the following academic year. (e.g., data gathered during 2011-12 is used in making awards for 2012-13) Test scores are gathered from the testing companies for the ACT and SAT exams taken during the students third and fourth semester prior to graduation. ISAC requests the required sixth semester data* (rank, unweighted GPA and class size) from high schools. High schools counselors can choose from one of three methods to provide sixth semester data to ISAC:
- electronically via an Excel spreadsheet;
- create their own school-generated paper roster; or
- complete a paper roster provided by ISAC.
Awards for the High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP) are announced following specific timeframes and in the following order:
State Scholar Program (Honorary Award) Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS) Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship (Federal funding will not be appropriated for the 2011-12 Byrd Program, and no new awards will be announced.)
*Sixth semester is defined as the third semester prior to graduation, which is typically the end of a student's junior year.
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