Meet the National Merit Finalists from Great Hearts Irving

Kristin Joseph and Catherine An Ha, seniors at Great Hearts Irving in Texas, have both been named National Merit Finalists. These high-achieving seniors have 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, “Only Finalists will be considered for the National Merit Scholarships. Approximately half of the Finalists will be Merit Scholarship winners (Merit Scholar awardees). Winners 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.”

Kristin Joseph 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.

Catherine An Ha 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.

“When I think of Catherine An Ha, the image of a butterfly comes to mind,” noted one of her teachers. “She is a quiet, delicate, artistic, musical creature who graciously lands in a spot and brings beauty to it. She is intelligent and is a gentle soul who celebrates the success of others as much as her own.”

Join Great Hearts in extending a congratulations to this amazing senior from the class of 2026 at Great Hearts Irving. We look forward to hearing more of the incredible things you will continue to accomplish in the future.

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