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National Merit Scholarship Program names semifinalists
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Updated: October 14, 2012 12:56PM
Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of about 16,000 Semifinalists in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
These high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 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 smifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
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.
Below are area semifinalists named in this year’s competition.
From Hinsdale South High School in Darien: Lia R. Benes, Nicole R. Blumenstein, Anisha J. Chinwalla, Joseph T. George, Justin Lee, Yee-Sean E. Yong.
From Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale: Ankit Aggarwal, Newkirk Alexander, Bryan L. Bu, Jeremy H. Cai, Anais Carell, Tiffany Chen, Maximilian M. Cornell, Abbishek Deshpande, Rajiv S. Deshpande, Saga R. Dommaraju, Kate R. Gelman, Samuel D. Hamilton, Jacqueline Han, Jordan Hank, Peter J. Heneghan, Emma P. Jerzyk, Charlotte R. Kanzler, Megan E. Knister, Zixi Liang, Laren Lofchy, Jennifer M. Johmeier, Jordan C. Lopez, Zachary R. Manta, William E. McGhee, Veronica R. Peterson, Peter J. Quionoes, Maxwell C. Rong, Jake T. Silhavy, Adam D. Smith, Shaila A. Sundram, Safaan Syed, Christopher N. Syregelas, Lindsey M. Thiesfeld, Gideon R. Ticho, Ziangyu Wang, Romi Xi, Otto Zhen.
From Lyons Township High School in La Grange: Rachel N. Adducci, Sarah K. Glowiak, Alaina R. Kafkes, Rebecca C. Rymsza, Hannah Y. Saggau, Stephen K. Sullivan, Jacob D. Wittenberg.
From Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park: Kelly M. McGarry, Harshita Reddy, Sarah E. Swade.
From Montini Catholic in Lisle: Rebekah A. Ernat.
Area students from Benet Academy in Lisle: Kevin J. Scheer of Clarendon Hills and Christopher R. Wentland of Hinsdale.
Area students from Fenwick High School in Oak Park: John M. Ryan of Hinsdale, Rebecca H. Steinmayer of La Grange, Ryan P. Walsh of Clarendon Hills.
Area students from the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora: Arjun Garg of Oak Brook, Nathan Suek of Oak Brook, Tahir Mohideen of Clarendon Hills, David Wang of Hinsdale.
