Hooper Markert ’21 Named National Merit Scholar

Indian Springs senior Hooper Markert ’21 has been selected to receive a $2,500 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

From approximately 1.6 million students who entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program, only about 16,000 were named Semifinalists. They were designated on a state representational basis, in proportion to each state’s percentage of the national total of graduating high school seniors. In order to advance in the competition and be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, a Semifinalist had to become a Finalist by fulfilling several requirements that included submitting a detailed scholarship application and presenting a record of very high academic performance. All winners of about 7,500 National Merit Scholarships were chosen from the group of approximately 15,000 distinguished Finalists.

Hooper was one of seven Indian Springs students to be named a National Merit Semifinalist in August 2020. He also scored a perfect 36 on the ACT.

Hooper has headed Indian Springs’ judiciary and served as a student tutor. He played on the men’s varsity basketball team, competed annually in the science fair, and was a Science Olympiad and Scholars Bowl team member. Outside of school, he has conducted research for a medical laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and served as a Senior Patrol Leader for the Boy Scouts.

Hooper plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

Congratulations, Hooper!