NHS Has Four National Merit Semifinalists

Four Newtown High School seniors were among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists named in the 51st annual National Merit Scholarship Program based out of Evanston, Ill.

Chris Roumanis, Megan Rawson, Celia Song, and Claire Zukowski were informed of their semifinalist status last Wednesday, September 14. Three of the students, Chris, Megan, and Celia, met with their guidance counselor, Deidre Croce, and Director of Guidance Neil Culhane in the guidance office last Thursday to receive congratulations on their outstanding achievement. Student Claire Zukowski is studying in Japan this fall and was unable to attend the congratulatory celebration.

These scholastically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth $33 million, that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements and advance to the finalist level of competition. About half of the finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar title.

More than 1.3 million juniors in nearly 21,000 US high schools entered the 2006 National Merit Program by taking the 2004 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represent less than one percent of US high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout the high school years, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance. The semifinalists and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self-descriptive essay and information about the semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.

Approximately 15,000 semifinalists will advance to the finalist level and it is from this group that all Merit Scholarship winners will be chosen. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

All four of the Newtown semifinalists indicated that they had a keen interest in the math and science fields. Chris Roumanis stated that he would like to pursue a computer related field of study in college. Celia Song said that she was surprised and very happy when she received word that she was a semifinalist. “My parents were very proud of me,” she said.

Megan Rawson said that her mom was very happy she had scored so well and looked up the scores on line to revalidate her score. “I’m very interested in the scholarship opportunities this offers for me,” Megan said.

Jan English, who is the guidance counselor for Claire Zukowski, said, “Claire is a true student. She has so many interests and strengths. She is very self motivated and goal oriented. Right now she is studying in Japan, taking all her courses in Japanese. She amazes me!”

Mr Culhane stated that the students’ PSAT scores from their junior year was the qualifying vehicle placing them in this round of semifinalists. He stressed the competitive nature of the competition. “These kids are at the top of the 28,000 kids in Connecticut who took the test. This is a gateway to a lot of scholarships. It opens up doors for them and makes them stand out from the crowd,” he stated.