NATCHEZ &045;&045; For Merit Scholarship winner Jordan Richard going away to college in a few weeks won’t be that big of a lifestyle change.

The 18-year-old spent the last two years of high school away from home, living dormitory life at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in Columbus.

&uot;It won’t be as different for me as it is for most people,&uot; Richard said.

Richard will use her $2,500 Merit Scholarship for a broadcast journalism major at Ole Miss.

Just over 8,000 Merit Scholars were chosen from 15,000 National Merit Finalists and Semifinalists. The original pool consisted of all U.S. high school juniors who took the PSAT. Those with high enough test scores, less than one percent of a state’s seniors, were the only ones who had the opportunity to continue in the competition.

The next step was a detailed scholarship application, an outstanding academic record, an endorsement from the school principal and an essay describing activities and goals.

Richard, who attended Cathedral School before MSMS, said she’s always enjoyed school and always made As and Bs.

At Cathedral she was on the soccer team and participated in student council. At MSMS she was in the drama club and poetry club and was the executive of the anime gaming club and art editor for the student literary publication.

In addition to a journalism major, Richard is applying to the Ole Miss Croft Institute, for international studies.

&uot;I got the major thinking I would go into international marketing,&uot; Richard said. &uot;And maybe go work in Japan. It’s some place I’ve always wanted to go.&uot;