EGHS 2018 National MeritⓇ Scholarship Program Commended Students and Semifinalists

East Greenwich High School Press Release

2018 National MeritⓇ Scholarship Program

Commended Students and Semifinalists

DATE SENT: September 26, 2017

TO BE RELEASED: Immediate

RELEASED BY: Michael J. Podraza, Principal

CONTACT: Michael J. Podraza, Principal

The Principal, Michael J. Podraza, of East Greenwich High School formally announced today the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and Commended Students.

Semifinalists in the 2018 National MeritⓇ Scholarship Program

Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalist in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit ScholarshipⓇ award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the Semifinalist are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit ScholarⓇ title.

East Greenwich High School’s Semifinalists are Cole Campbell, Jason DiMase, Alicia Gibbons, Laura Murphy, Grace Scott and Matthew Sommer. To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalists’ academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SATⓇ scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation.  All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists.  Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference.

Commended Students in the 2018 National MeritⓇ Scholarship Program

About 34,000 Commended Students are being recognized throughout the nation for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2018 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, these Commended Students can take great pride knowing that they placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2018 competition by taking the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQTⓇ).

East Greenwich High School’s Commended Students are Siddhi M. Deshpande, Sean Hanley, Peter Iwamoto, Axel Lindquist, Matthew Plympton, Priya Sarma, Nathaniel Wolfgang, Jeffrey Yu and Lucy Yu have been named Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program.  A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.

“The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”