Marcy J De Cou 1961 National Merit Scholarship Winner

In its 1961 Annual Report, National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) investigated which qualities set National Merit Scholars apart from their high school peers. As with today’s National Merit Scholarship Program, the 1961 Selection Committee looked for something beyond academic excellence when choosing award winners. The Report states: NMSC "tries to reserve its awards for those who also have some other special quality–whether it be creativity, determination, dedication to a chosen goal, or resilience to misfortune.”

In the fall of 1960, the United States Information Agency assigned Ted Bronstein, a Seattle photographer, to take the pictures for a photo essay showing what it means to be a contender in the National Merit Scholarship Program. With the help of Mr. Frank Hanawalt, principal of Garfield High School in Seattle, and Miss Betty Deetz, guidance counselor, he selected Marcy J. De Cou as the subject of the story. Mr. Bronstein spent some time with her during her senior year, photographing her home and school life as well as key events in the scholarship competition. Marcy’s journey through the National Merit Scholarship Program was published in NMSC's 1961 Annual Report and is chronicled below.

Photos appearing left to right.

1. Marcy and her classmates at Garfield High School in Seattle get a big laugh from Shakespearean comedy as re-enacted by their teacher, Robert Pevonak.
2. Marcy concentrates on whatever she is doing, whether in an orchestra rehearsal (top) or in a class (bottom).
3. Marcy takes extra courses and is active in school affairs too, so she arises at six to practice.
4. As she asks Miss Betty Deetz, counselor, about her scores, Marcy's concern is evident (left). Her father provides the data required of all Semifinalists (right).

What is it that sets a Merit Scholar apart? THAT EXTRA SOMETHING

In the last five years, a new phrase has been added to the American vocabulary-National Merit. To every high school student, and to their teachers and parents, these words represent the most coveted of all scholarship honors. To Marcy De Cou, the eighteen-year-old Seattle student shown here, they stand for a long-sought goal.

Marcy was one of nearly 580,000 students from all parts of the United States who entered the competition for this year's awards. She took the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in the spring of 1960 and scored among the top 10,000 students. As a Semifinalist, she then took another examination-the Scholastic Aptitude Test. She also submitted her school reports, a recommendation from her principal, a description of her interests (music, philosophy, mathematics), and plans for the future (to study music in college and become a good instrumentalist). In February 1961 she learned that her high scores on the second test had placed her among the Finalists. But Marcy knew that high scores alone do not guarantee Merit Scholarships.

To choose the winners, the Selection Committee looks for something beyond academic excellence. Studying the submissions, they search for evidence of real talent and promise. Many scholarships sponsored by corporations, unions, and public spirited organizations are available to intelligent young people. NMSC tries to reserve its awards for those who also have some other special quality-whether it be creativity, determination, dedication to a chosen goal, or resilience to misfortune.

During the last months of waiting for the announcement of winners, Marcy was busy, as usual, with schoolwork, music, dates, and helping out at home -but now and then she could not help stopping to wonder whether she had that extra something that would bring her a National Merit Scholarship.

Marcy's family was waiting for her in the railroad station when she returned early one March morning from a music festival in Spokane, Washington. They had a letter for her. "It's from the National Merit people," Marcy exclaimed as her mother gave it to her. And then, "I've got it, I've got it!" she gasped.

The letter informed her that she had been named a National Merit Scholar and awarded an annual stipend to finance her education at the University of Washington. The Selection Committee had decided she had that extra something. Perhaps it was her capacity for hard work, or her innate intellectual curiosity; perhaps it was her unusual talent for music, coupled with her top-ranking record in all subjects. She would never know.