MORRILTON, AR -- Elena Lopez, a senior at Morrilton High School, was recognized by the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program, as announced by Principal Brian Bunch.



The National Hispanic Recognition Program, established in 1983, is a College Board program that provides national recognition of the exceptional academic achievements of Hispanic high school seniors and identifies them for postsecondary institutions.



Students enter the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, as high school juniors, identifying themselves as Hispanic. From the more than 150,000 students nationwide, approximately 4,500 of the highest scoring students were initially identified.



Based on evidence of academic achievements, a select group is recognized by the program as either a Scholar or Honorable Mention Finalist. Scholars had a grade point average of 3.5 or higher; Honorable Mention Finalists had a GPA of 3.0 to 3.49. Lopez carries a 4.0 GPA.



“I’m honored to have been selected when there are so many smart and talented people out there," Elena told ¡Hola! Arkansas.



After graduation, Elena Lopez intends to enter the pre-med program at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., and major in psychology. She then plans to attend University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in Little Rock and become a pediatrician.



Elena is always trying to help whenever she sees a need. Some people want to be a doctor to make a lot of money, but for her, it is her genuine love of children and her desire to help them in any way possible. In July of this year Elena and her family participated on a mission trip to Rio Bravo Mexico.



She is the daughter of Don and Linda Fulkerson of Morrilton and Valentin Jr. and Josie Lopez of Grants, N.M. She is the granddaughter of Petra ...