National Merit Finalist Dominic Shipley to study Mechanical Engineering at UTK

Finishing his high school career at the top of his class, Dominic Shipley has excelled in everything from Robotics to the track throwing team. However, his most recent accolade places him in the top 0.5% of U.S. high school seniors by being named a National Merit Scholar, receiving one of their scholarships. 

“I took the PSAT junior year and got a really good score, so that meant I got put in the running to be a National American Semifinalist,” Shipley said. “Once you become a finalist, you can win one of the [the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)] scholarships, one of their company based scholarships, or one of their university based scholarships. I won one of the [NMSC] scholarships, which is a one-time $2,500 scholarship.”

While some people prepare rigorously for such exams, Shipley explained that he “didn’t really study. [He] took the PSAT once before as a sophomore.” However, his high school classes have helped him prepare for both this test and his college career. 

“Taking all the AP and honors classes I got [prepared me]. It made me study a lot more material in a lot less time,” Shipley said. 

If he could offer any advice to students wanting to succeed, it would be to “challenge yourself. Take the harder classes, don’t be lazy.” 

Shipley’s dedication to his academic career has allowed him to shape a future he wants. 

 “I’m going to [the University of Tennessee Knoxville] to study mechanical engineering and I will be in the honors program,” Shipley said. “I’m looking forward to 24 hours of 3-D printing a week plus the vibrant campus life.”