Great Hearts Celebrates National Merit Finalists

Several students in the Great Hearts Class of 2026 have earned recognition as National Merit Finalists. These high-achieving seniors earned a high score on the PSAT and met other program requirements, placing them among approximately 15,000 of the most academically promising students in the nation. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website, finalists are “chosen on the basis of their abilities, skills, and accomplishments… Scholarship recipients are the candidates judged to have the greatest potential for success in rigorous college studies and beyond.”

Calvin (Elliot) Brackman from Chandler Prep has grown immensely in his time at Great Hearts, and his contributions to the academy’s community are strong. “Our school would not be the same without Elliot,” shared Lead College Counselor Susan Ruby. “He is active in our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu enrichment course, on our robotics team, in our men’s choir, and has been on the Chandler Prep Leadership Council since sophomore year.” Brackman plans to study cyber security at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz. Learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-the-national-merit-finalists-from-chandler-prep/.

Kiersten Malimban from Chandler Prep has a true care for her school community and a passion to help others around her succeed, according to Lead College Counselor Susan Ruby. “Whether it is in the classroom with her classmates, in her role as a mentor to the younger students at our school, or even her role in our yearbook committee as one of the editors, Kiersten does everything she can to help positively impact our school community and culture, but she does not stop there.” As a sophomore, she started a volunteer effort called “Reframe.” This volunteer effort reaches out to the people in developing countries, by providing them with old prescription glasses that people are no longer using. Malimban plans to study in the field of psychology. Learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-the-national-merit-finalists-from-chandler-prep/.

Allison Wright from Glendale Prep plans to attend the W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona and she would like to eventually get her CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) license. CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who administer anesthesia and provide pain management.

In addition to being a National Merit Finalist, she is also the recipient of The Wildcat Tuition Award, The Garcia Family Foundation Scholarship for Study Abroad, The United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association Local 493 Scholarship, and several smaller scholarships and merit-based awards. Learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-the-national-merit-finalist-at-glendale-prep/.

Atish Bala from Scottsdale Prep is preparing to attend Princeton University after graduation, where he will join the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs with aspirations of pursuing a career in diplomacy and international relations. He was featured for earning a perfect ACT score of 36.

Bala applied to Princeton with early action restrictions, meaning he was unable to apply to any other private university at the same time, but the risk paid off. “I managed to get in, which was really nice because that was my dream school… It was really exciting,” explained Bala. “When we were actually applying, I was with Ms. Coolidge, my [college] counselor, who was very helpful throughout the whole process.” Learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-the-princeton-bound-national-merit-finalist-at-scottsdale-prep/.

Ronak Kapadia from Veritas Prep was featured for earning a perfect ACT score of 36, as well as making it through to the final round of the National Merit Scholarship program, two distinctions that set him apart as an exceptional student. He plans to major in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech.

Kapadia also maintains a 4.0 GPA while juggling a very active school calendar. He competes with the mock trial team, sings with the VPA Chorale, men’s choir, and the school’s talented barbershop quartet, ShaveShack. Kapadia competes on the cross-country team as well.

Outside of school, he is an instructor and tutor at Mathnasium, interns at Coda Kid Camp, and practices Kyu-Kido, a comprehensive Korean martial art system. Learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-two-exceptional-seniors-at-veritas-prep/.

Kristin Joseph from Great Hearts Irving plans to attend the University of Notre Dame and plans to major in business. Beyond her stellar academic performance and abilities, what sets her apart is her motivation to serve, as evidenced by all that she has accomplished in her community. As an innovative, self-motivated entrepreneur, she is a fully engaged leader who is making an impact at her academy as a senator in student government and in the surrounding community through the non-profit initiatives that she has built from scratch. Her first major project was founding and directing a summer camp for girls. From there, she launched Horizon Prep, a tuition-free tutoring program for local public-school students. Then, when she learned that more than 600 elementary students had been re-zoned into local district schools this past year, she launched Horizon Prep Summer, a free camp that gave students extra support and enrichment before the start of the new school year. Throughout high school, she has drafted business plans, fundraised, budgeted, marketed her programs, contacted community leaders, designed program content, and recruited and trained high-achieving high school students to serve as tutors. Because of her consistent service dedicating over 700 hours of volunteer work, Kristin has earned the Congressional Gold Medal. Learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-the-national-merit-finalists-from-great-hearts-irving/.

Catherine An Ha from Great Hearts Irving plans to attend the University of Dallas, majoring in biology. Throughout her four years at Great Hearts Irving, An Ha actively pursued opportunities in leadership, service, academics, and the arts. She contributed to campus life through organizations such as the Newspaper Club, yearbook, homecoming committee, Science Symposium, Red Cross Club, STEM Club, chamber choir, Inkstain Illustration Club, and the school musical. Through after-school clubs, she explored her creativity through gallery practicum, ceramics, crochet, painting, poetry, and drama. She also remained deeply involved in her church community, participating in church choir, Lunar New Year performances, Christmas programs, Marian Days volunteering, camps, ALPHA Leadership Program, serving as a Sunday School teacher assistant, and volunteering with Friends of Irving Library. Learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-the-national-merit-finalists-from-great-hearts-irving/.

Dharshan Vijayakumar from Great Hearts Forest Heights was chosen as the valedictorian for his graduating class during their inaugural commencement ceremony. He is heading to Texas A&M this fall to study computer engineering.

Acting has been a big part of his high school experience. He was one of the leads in the nineth grade play Much Ado about Nothing and continued to have important acting roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and in An Ideal Husband his senior year. He has also played varsity soccer and ran varsity cross country. Learn more at https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/meet-the-national-merit-finalist-at-great-hearts-forest-heights/.

Congratulations to both of these amazing seniors from the class of 2026 at Great Hearts academies. We look forward to hearing more of the incredible things you will continue to accomplish in the future.

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.