Algonquin Regional High School Principal Sean Bevan recognized students, who have been named as National Merit Scholars, at the October 21 Regional School Committee meeting.
Per a district email from Superintendent Greg Martineau dated October 23:
“Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either Commended Students or Semifinalists.
Commended Students. In late September, more than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended Students are named based on a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is typically below the level required for participants to be named Semifinalists in their respective states. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.”
- Congratulatons to ARHS Commended Students: Christopher Bleck, Joshua Cheng, Sanjar Kandadi, Yasmin Lee, Madelyne Loeffel, John Meehan, Kyla Pelham, Thomas Pianka, Haley Rybarcyk, Nicholas Seto, Bharathan Sundar, Abhinav Tripathi, Chloe Truong, Sophia Watanabe, Emily Wu, Karthik Yalala, Aaliyah Yan, and Kathryn Zaia.
Semifinalists. “In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis. Semifinalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Qualifying scores vary from state to state and from year to year, but the scores of all Semifinalists are extremely high. NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist.”
- Congratulations to the following ARHS students who were named as semifinalists: Aniketh Dandu, David Gillingham, Jason Hu, and Pranitha Polavarapu.
Job well done!