UT Tyler Charter School Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist

September 28, 2023

UT Tyler Charter School Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist

Office of Marketing and Communications

September 28, 2023

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

Ian Orr of Tyler, a senior at The University of Texas at Tyler University Academy – Tyler campus, is a National Merit semifinalist. He joins about 16,000 juniors and seniors nationwide to score in the top 1% on the PSAT. His score qualifies him to compete for a National Merit Scholarship.

A very high academic performance in grades 9-12 and any college courses is one of the requirements for National Merit Scholars.

“Ian is hard working in all aspects of his education,” said Dr. Kelly Dyer, campus director. “He always is on top of his work and does his best each day. We are so proud of his accomplishments and ability to take ownership in his education.”

Orr’s high school accomplishments include placing first overall at the Region VII Citizens Bee and first at the University Interscholastic League Congress Regional Qualifiers event in speech and debate.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.