• Sept. 11, 2019

    Six named National Merit Semifinalists

    National Merit Semifinalists Six Upper St. Clair High School seniors were recently named Semifinalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Competition. The following students scored in the top one percent of all juniors completing the PSAT in October 2018: Julia Brubach, Nisarg Kalra, Vivian Li, Daniel O’Brien, Ian Rankin and Braden Yates.

    “The Upper St. Clair High School community is excited to honor these six students' academic achievements. I am proud not only of this impressive recognition, but also of the dedication and effort our recipients display at school each day,” Dr. Tim Wagner, Upper St. Clair High School principal, said. “Recognition as a National Merit Semifinalist reflects positively on these students, their families and our entire school district.”

    Founded in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. 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 (approximately 16,000 students) qualify as Semifinalists.

    The Upper St. Clair Semifinalists have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application that highlights academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

    The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the Semifinalists on Sept. 11, 2019. National Merit Finalists will be named in February 2020, followed by the National Merit Scholars in the spring. The program awards three types of National Merit Scholarships - 2,500 National Merit Scholarships of $2,500; approximately 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships; and 4,100 college-sponsored Merit Scholarships.

    For more information regarding the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit: www.nationalmerit.org.