Four Westside Christian High Students Named National Merit Finalists - 03/08/10 >Lake Oswego, Ore. — March 8, 2010 —

Andy Sears, principal of Westside Christian High School, announced today that four Westside seniors have been named National Merit Scholarship finalists. They are Craig Bingham, John Povolny, Anna Reiff, and Ryan Scott. These students are among the top 15,000 highest-scoring participants out of 1.5 million program entrants across the country this year and are some of the top scorers in the state of Oregon.

"These young people have demonstrated outstanding academic potential by their strong performance in this highly competitive program," stated Sears. "We hope that this recognition will enhance their educational opportunities and encourage them to continue to diligently pursue their professional goals."

Craig Bingham has not yet solidified his plans for next year. He is considering going to Loyola Marymount, Seattle Pacific, or Whitworth University and plans to major in a scientific field, engineering, or begin the pursuit of a pre-med degree. Craig recently won the title of "Mr. Westside" and has served as captain of the cross country and track teams. He is also a gifted piano and guitar player and has dabbled in theater

John Povolny is waiting to hear from a few universities in California, including USC, UCLA, and Santa Clara, where he plans to minor in several foreign languages. He has yet to determine what he will pursue for a major. John is a gifted actor and has captured lead roles in Westside's major productions each year. Additionally, he has directed some of the one-act plays performed by younger actors and actresses at the school. John has participated in cross country, track, and soccer and has served as captain of Westside's drumline and quad section leader of the school's elite singing group.

Anna Reiff is headed to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, next year, where she plans to focus her academic studies in the areas of psychology and nursing. She is currently Westside's ASB President and has served as captain for the soccer and basketball teams. She has also participated in track and cross country.

Ryan Scott plans to start college at either Seattle Pacific University or University of Oregon. Areas of interest include international business with either a finance or language minor. He is also intrigued with the prospect of majoring in engineering, focusing on the science of materials joining. Ryan is currently helping his father start a business and has led demonstrations at one of the largest international trade shows. During his high school years, Ryan has participated in track, soccer, and drama.

"Having six percent of our graduating class represented in this highly selective group of scholars reflects the rigor of Westside's academic offering," stated Scott Ball, Westside Academic Dean. "Westside also tops the list of private and public schools in our area of Portland in SAT scores, with a current composite average of 1771." Westside has a complete list of 2010 SAT Scores reported by area schools posted on their website.

Other recent statistics further demonstrate that Westside students are well prepared for college. Each year the Oregon University System releases a report which provides data about the academic performance of our graduates at all seven OUS schools. Recent statistics show that Westside students outscored the state average. After their first year, the college GPA of the Westside students was almost 4/10 higher than the rest of the students from Oregon, demonstrating that Westside grads are outperforming their counterparts at the college level.

"Westside does so much more than just prepare students academically," added Sears. "Most students participate in one or more varsity sports, take part in a major drama production, sing in our state championship choir, play in the praise band or drumline, and learn lifelong leadership skills. The opportunities they experience here are far greater than they might have at a larger school, giving them a unique and truly well-rounded experience. While it is true that we have achieved these fundamental elements of a quality program, our calling and mission go deeper. Our desire is to help Westside grads discover their passions and learn how to make their faith come alive as they prepare for a bigger purpose. We introduce students to ways they can become the hands and feet of Christ here in the Portland area or thousands of miles around the globe. These students are tomorrow's leaders, prepared for a world that desperately needs them."


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About Westside Christian High School
Westside Christian High School, located in Lake Oswego, Oregon, was founded in 1981 with a mission to equip servant leaders in God's Kingdom for the next generation by educating and developing the whole person for the glory of God. For more information visit www.wchsonline.org or call 503.697.4711.