In about 10 years look for Alexander Kim to be somewhere on the cutting edge of engineering technology.
The humble, soft-spoken Harker Heights High School senior would never make such a claim, but the math seems to be in his favor.
Kim is a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist, the only one at his school and in Killeen ISD this year.
“When I got the scores back, I did the math and said it looks pretty good,” he said. “I got the letter last week, which was solid confirmation.”
About 1.3 million students across the nation enter the National Merit Scholarship Program each year by taking the PSAT their junior year of high school.
More than 16,000 students reach the Semifinalist stage and about 95 percent of them attain the Finalist level. About half of those are expected to win a National Merit Scholarship through a process that includes recommendations, an essay and test scores.
The Semifinalists represent less than one percent of US high school seniors, including the highest scorers in each state.
“It’s exciting. It does mean I have more essays to write.”
The focused, soft-spoken Kim considers the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the US Air Force Academy his top choices as university destinations following high school graduation.
He is working on college applications and essays and figures he will apply to 20 schools. “Hopefully, a lot will accept me.”
Kim is drawn to aerospace and computer science and sees himself working on computer systems on spacecraft in the future.
He also likes history and is a two-time All-State orchestra member.
The outstanding scholar attended Mountain View Elementary and Union Grove Middle schools before Harker Heights High School.
His dad is an engineer, and Kim grew up around computers. His sister, Hanah Kim, graduated as the valedictorian of the Harker Heights High School Class of 2024. She is in her second year at Harvard University.
“I’m excited and a little nervous,” he said. “After 15 years in the school system, everyone is leaving, and the future is uncertain.”
“We’re incredibly proud of Alexander and the educators who have supported his academic journey,” said KISD Director for Advanced Academics Jennifer Roden.
“His success is a tremendous accomplishment for both him and the KISD campuses he attended, and it underscores the academic talent across our district.”