OPS' Block named a National Merit Finalist

Yahoo

13-02-2025

Landon Block can't remember a time when academics weren't a driving force in his life.
The Owensboro High School senior said his educational motivation has come from different influences.
'It's almost like there is some competition with people in my class,' he said. 'I always felt like I was pushed by my peers to do as well as I can academically, and I've always put that as the No. 1 priority since elementary school. My parents, they want us to succeed, but it's not a demanding atmosphere at my house. They just want us to do our best.
'I think most of the motivation has come from myself.'
Block's commitment to academics has paid off in many ways, including his learning Monday that he's been named a National Merit Finalist. It puts him among 15,000 students in the running to be named National Merit Scholars.
'I am incredibly honored,' he said. 'I'm very excited I moved on to this point. I'm thrilled. But now I'm kind of just letting it take its own course, patiently waiting and letting it play out.
'I'm just happy that I've gotten this far. I wouldn't say I'm feeling anxious. I'm hopeful.'
Patience has been required throughout the National Merit process, with Block having taken the first step during his junior year, when he took the Pre-SAT. He scored a 1500 out of a possible 1520, which made him one of 50,000 semifinalists from across the country, with him among the top 1% of the state's high school seniors.
'I was pretty excited I got my score,' Block said. 'Sometimes I have that sort of perfectionism attitude, but for this test in particular, I knew it was one time to take it and I can't really redo this. So I was very happy (with my score).'
Once Block, the son of Steven and Ashley Block, was named a semifinalist, he had to submit, among other items, his other standardized test scores, his academic transcript and a list of his extra-curricular activities.
'I'm pretty busy,' he said. 'I'm a member of high school band, jazz band and wind ensemble. I play French horn and piano. I'm on the academic team, math, science and quick recall. And I try to stay busy in other areas. I'm in National Honor Society, and there are times I'm doing community service.'
Kara Miller, a school counselor at Owensboro High School, said Block never gives less than 100% effort.
'Landon always goes above and beyond to do his best at everything he does,' Miller said. 'He works hard. Not only is he a top scholar here at school, but he goes out of his way to do for others and is always a friendly face. He's made me feel welcome here, this being my first year at OHS. He goes above and beyond in everything he does.'
Block is still weighing his college decision, with Louisville and Purdue on his list. He said his favorite subjects are math and science. He wants to study to be an electrical engineer, and is also considering adding on computer science.
'I think part of it is when you keep pushing yourself forward with academics, there is so much logic rooted in those subject areas; it's almost like curiosity to figure out how things work,' he said. 'Those two subjects explain how things work — especially in science to learn how things work and to get a better understanding of the world.'
Block expects to learn in early March if he is named one of the 7,500 scholars. But regardless the outcome, he's proud of what he's accomplished.
'It has been a lot of work,' he said. 'At this point, I'm very proud that I've chosen to put that initiative into it, because it really wasn't asked of me or demanded of me. If there is one thing I can take away from it all is that I'm proud of the work ethic I've built with all of the courses I've taken and activities outside.
'There have been some rigorous classes, and I've made them work out well.'