Congratulations to the following outstanding Cavaliers for their achievements in the National Merit Program. Go Cavs!!

2013 National Merit Semifinalists

Breznik, Casey

Ferry-Johnson, MIreille

Langen, Andrew

Ponce, Eric

From the press release: More than 160,000 high school juniors from all parts of the United States requested consideration in the 2013 National Achievement Scholarship Program when they took the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Semifinalists are designated within geographic regions and are the highest-scoring program entrants in the states that make up each region.

To advance to the Finalist level in the competition, the Semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and educational goals. Semifinalists must present a record of high academic performance throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm their PSAT/NMSQT performance.

From the approximately 1,600 Semifinalists, about 1,300 are expected to advance to the Finalist level and in January they will be notified of this designation. All Achievement Scholar® awardees will be selected from the Finalist group on the basis of their abilities, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

National Achievement Scholarships

National Achievement Scholarships provided in 2013 will be supported by corporations, professional organizations, foundations, and by NMSC’s own funds. Two types of scholarships will be offered. Every Finalist will compete for one of the 700 one-time National Achievement $2500 Scholarships, which will be awarded on a regional representation basis. In addition, corporate and business sponsors will underwrite about 100 Achievement Scholarship awards for Finalists who meet criteria set by the grantor. Although some corporate-sponsored awards provide a single payment, most are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study. NMSC will release the names of scholarship winners to news media in early April.

2013 National Merit Commended Students 

Babboni, Lorenzo

Frachesen, Nicola

Kirkpatrick, Michael

Mekler, Tamara

Moten, Febrian

Pis-Dudot, Angelo

Riesco, Alexandra

Stack, Alexandra

From the Press Release: […] Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2013 competition by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). [an NMSC spokesperson said] “The young people recognized as Commended Students represent some of the best and brightest minds in the country as demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program.”