Mountain resident and Sandy High School senior Ali Gunesch added to her academic accolades by being named as a National Merit Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Gunesch is one of 15,000 finalists in the nation.

“It feels great to have become a National MeritFinalist,” wrote Gunesch in an e-mail to The Mountain Times. “It’s really (a) nice recognition.”

Gunesch noted that approximately half of the finalists will be awarded some
type of scholarship and winners will be notified in April or May.

She added that those students who do not secure one of the scholarships still
benefit from being a finalist.

“Becoming a National Merit Finalist is more about the title and the
accomplishment itself than the scholarship,” wrote Gunesch. “Some colleges
give scholarships for having the distinction.”

Sandy High School Principal Tim Werner noted Gunesch was the only finalist
and semi-finalist from the school this year.

“Ali has demonstrated excellence in her academics, challenging herself with a
variety of our most challenging classes,” wrote Tim Werner in an e-mail. “We
are proud of Ali’s achievements in becoming one of the finalists for such a
prestigious scholarship.”

Gunesch was also named as a 2011 Advanced Placement Scholar by the
College Board last year, participates on the cross country team and is a
nationally ranked ski racer.

She recently won a Downhill race and Super G race at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort
and was expected to travel to Schweitzer, Idaho to compete in the Western
Regional Junior Championships in early March.