Good News About Polk County Public Schools

Bianca Mulaney, Bartow High International Baccalaureate student, is the only student from Polk County to be named a National Merit Scholar so far this year. She is among 2,500 students nationwide to be named a merit scholar. The 18-year-old, who hopes to major in biomedical science, will receive a $2,500 scholarship to put toward her college tuition.

Mulaney is also a state winner of the National Association of Secondary School Principals/Herff Jones Principal’s Leadership Award (PLA). The teen joins a select group of student leaders nominated for their leadership skills, participation in service organizations and clubs, achievements in the arts and sciences, employment experience and academic record.

NASSP and Herff Jones awarded the high school senior a $1,000 PLA scholarship. The finalists were chosen from among 3,000 nominees.

NASSP and Herff Jones have awarded the PLA scholarships since 1988, providing more than $3.5 million in scholarship awards to outstanding high school seniors from across the nation.