Richards serves on 2023 National Merit Scholarship Selection Committee

Christopher Richards, director of undergraduate enrollment at the University of Maine, was invited to serve as a member of the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Selection Committee earlier this month.

Richards served on a 14-member committee to select the finalists of 2023 National Merit Scholarships from an estimated 15,000 semifinalists.

The UMaine alumnus and native of Dixfield, Maine has been a member of the university’s enrollment management team for over 10 years. Most recently, Richards served as vice president for enrollment management for nearly three years, and was named director in October.

In the National Merit Scholarship Program, three types of scholarships are offered to finalists: National Merit $2,500 scholarships, corporate-sponsored merit scholarship awards, and college-sponsored merit scholarship awards. Special Scholarships also are awarded to outstanding students who are not finalists and meet a corporate sponsor’s criteria, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) website.

NMSC recognizes and honors academically talented students in the United States. Its scholarship programs promote a wider and deeper respect for learning in general and for exceptionally talented individuals, in particular; spotlight top students and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence at all levels of education; and stimulate increased support from individuals and organizations to sponsor scholarships for outstanding scholastic talent.