May 18, 2022 – Hickory Point Bank honored local high school graduates during their Merit Scholar Awards ceremony.
Created for Decatur area high school seniors, the Hickory Point Bank Merit Scholars program recognizes the top four students from each of the seven area high schools where the bank has a presence: Eisenhower, MacArthur, St. Teresa, LSA, Decatur Christian, Maroa-Forsyth, and Mt. Zion.
Each high school principal or guidance counselor submitted names of its top four students from its high school’s graduating class of 2020. An objective rating system that combines class rank and ACT/SAT score was used by each school to determine the top four students. In addition, candidates from each school submit a 500-word essay on the topic: “Explain something that made a big impact on your life”. The bank’s selection committee reviewed all candidate submissions and selected the Hickory Point Bank Merit Scholar of the Year and three runners-up based on a rubric tabulation and their essay.
Receiving the 2022 Hickory Point Bank Merit Scholar of the Year was Van Tran of Maroa-Forsyth High School. Tran received a $5000 scholarship and has a class rank of 1 of 91 and a GPA of 5.182/5.0. During her time at Maroa Forsyth, Tran served as the Treasurer of the National Honor Society, Vice President of the Spanish Honor Society, and Vice President of the Art Club. She also served as a section leader in band, class representative for the Principal Advisory Committee, Math Team, Scholastic Bowl, Yearbook Committee, and Academic Challenge Team. Her community involvement included being the marketing co-chair and treasurer of Young Leaders in Action, Social media manager of Behind the Chapters and worked as a tutor and mentor for Team Bezzie. Van plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and become a camera hardware engineer.
Receiving a $1000 scholarship was Erika Flickinger of St. Teresa High School. Flickinger has a class rank of 4.88/4.0 and plans to obtain a computer science degree at either Georgia Tech or Johns Hopkins and the attend medical school.
Receiving a $500 scholarship was Valerie Nutakor of St. Teresa High School. Nutakor has a class rank of 2 of 52 and a GPA of 4.722/4.0 and plans to major in Psychology while participating in the pre-med track with the intention of becoming an OBGYN.
Receiving a $250 scholarship was Weston Walker of Mt. Zion High School. Walker has a class rank of 5 of 167, and a GPA of 4.54/4.0 and plans to study finance and computer science at Purdue University.
