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Feb. 12, 2018
10 named National Merit Finalists
Ten Upper St. Clair High School seniors were recently named Finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Steven D. Cheung, Ariana Chiu, Nadith A. Dharmasena, Sahil B. Doshi, Jagadeesh R. Gummadi, Michael R. Hrehocik, Caroline C. LeKachman, Spencer C. Miller, Daniel R. Speer and Abigail E. Wagner were selected on the basis of their SAT scores, grades, essays and letters of recommendation.
In September 2017, these Upper St. Clair students were named Semifinalists in the competition for scoring in the top one percent of all juniors completing the PSAT in October 2016.
“Achieving National Merit Finalist status is an enormous feat for a high school student,” Dr. Louis Angelo, Upper St. Clair High School principal, said. “As juniors, they scored among the top one percent in the nation – what an amazing display of hard work and tenacity. We are so very proud of each of them.”
Founded in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. High school students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT – the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – during the fall of their junior year. Of the nearly 1.6 million entrants, the top one percent (nearly 16,000 students), qualify as Semifinalists – approximately 15,000 of whom advance as Finalists.
As Finalists, the Upper St. Clair seniors are now competing for National Merit Scholarships that will be offered and announced this spring. The program awards three types of scholarships: National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarships and College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships.
All winners of Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the Finalist group based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments. A variety of information is available for selectors to evaluate including the Finalist's academic record, information about the school’s curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, the high school official's written recommendation, information about the student’s activities and leadership and the Finalist's own essay.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, “The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.” For more information regarding the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit: www.nationalmerit.org.
