Schools

Loma Linda Academy Students Earn National Merit Scholar Program Honors

Senior Yvonne Bui is a semifinalist in the academic program, and six others earned commendations. Marie Del Aguila is a finalist in the National Hispanic Recognition Program.

Nine high school seniors at Loma Linda Academy have been recognized by the National Merit Scholar Program, the National Hispanic Recognition Program, and the National Achievement Scholarship Program, according to school officials.

Yvonne Bui has been named a semifinalist in the 2013 National Merit Scholar Program, which is based on testing that took place in October 2011, according to program representatives.

Marie Del Aguila is a finalist in the National Hispanic Recognition Program, a separate academic competition based on similar testing criteria.

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Michael Lawrence was named an Outstanding Participant in the National Achievement Scholarship Program for black Americans, school officials said.

Chase Atiga, Iris Lee, Dillon Liang, Alexandra Stream, Cynthia A. Viera and Charlene Wang each earned recognition as Commended Students in the National Merit Scholar Program, Loma Linda Academy officials said.

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National Merit Scholar semifinalists like Bui can advance to become finalists by meeting high academic standards and other requirements.

Finalists are named in February, and National Merit Scholar winners are chosen between March and June from among that group of high achievers, according to program representatives.

Loma Linda Academy is the only school in the Loma Linda-Redlands area to have a semifinalist this year, according to LLA high school principal Robert Skoretz.

Bui has attended Loma Linda Academy for six years, beginning in 2006, school officials said. Her sister, Bich Tram, graduated from LLA in 1996, and her brothers Duy and Chonway Tram graduated in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

Bui has been a member of the National Honor Society since 2010, school officials said. She is also yearbook editor, and she has captained the girls' junior varsity soccer team.

She has volunteered at the Asian American Resource Center in San Bernardino, the Helping Hands program, and the Grand Terrace Branch Library, school officials said.

"Each Saturday, she plays the piano for church services and choir practices at Loma Linda Vietnamese Seventh-day Adventist Church," school officials said.

Bui lives in Colton with her parents, Liet Bui and Kim Tran-Bui, who are business owners, school officials said.

Loma Linda Academy is a Seventh-day Adventist K-12 grade school founded in 1906. More than 7,000 students have attended over the past century. There are currently more than 1,300 students enrolled.

"The school provides a college-preparatory program with honors classes, varsity sports, touring and performing musical groups as well as mission and service opportunities," academy officials said.

Each year, "99%+" of Loma Linda Academy's graduating seniors are college-bound, according to school officials.

Loma Linda Academy graduates have earned acceptance to universities including Harvard, Yale, Pepperdine, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Loma Linda University and other private Seventh-day Adventist institutions, school officials said.

For more information about Loma Linda Academy visit  www.lla.org or call (909) 796-0161.

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