Portsmouth Christian Academy Senior Named National Merit Finalist

Portsmouth Christian Academy (PCA) senior Danielle M. Brackett of Somersworth, NH has advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2017. Less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors receive finalist standing in this program.

Through distinguished academic performance, community service, and demonstrated leadership ability, Danielle is being recognized as showing high potential for future academic accomplishment.

Outside of school, Danielle has pursued her love of flying through the Civil Air Patrol, in which she has earned several awards (Mitchell and Wright Brothers) and risen to command her local squadron of over 40 cadets. She works part-time as a dietary aide in an assisted living facility, and she spent the last two summers working as a Research Trainee at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston analyzing research data for a melanoma study.

According to PCA English teacher Mr. Steven Foley, “There is no question as to whether or not Danielle will succeed in college or in her career as a doctor. The only question is which college will benefit from her hard work and contributions. She has that perfect blend of raw intelligence and superior work ethic bound together by a humble spirit.”

History teacher Dr. Raymond Gamble says of Danielle, who has attended PCA since pre-school, “She is arguably the most broadly talented individual I have been privileged to know, and at the same time she is a warm and gracious person.”

Danielle now advances to compete for one of 7,500 National Merit scholarships worth about $33 million, which will be awarded in the spring.