Several Maine Township High School District 207 seniors have earned the status of National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist and several other students have been named Commended Students. In addition, one District 207 student earned the National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) through the program. The semifinalists, commended awardees and recognition award recipients are determined by performance on the PSAT taken by students in their junior year of high school.
The semifinalists include Matthew Foley from Maine South (left), Addison Stutheit from Maine West (center) and Eric Zheng from Maine West (right).
The commended students include: Evelyn Alsop, Robert Kalun and Logan Lay from Maine East; Izabela Bisiak, Joseph Habisohn, Dexter Kelleher, Mary Keller, Katherine Kolz, Jack Koteles, Joseph Mullarkey, Elliott Natura, Joseph Russell, Evan Saurer and Ella Sieburg from Maine South; and Aaron Grata and Francisco Jimenez Srain from Maine West.
David Rindfleisch from Maine South was honored in the (NAARA) category.
Each year more than 1.6 million juniors in nearly 22,000 U.S. high schools enter the Merit Program. Semifinalists have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be awarded next spring to Finalists. That process includes a detailed application process for the students. Three types of Merit Scholarships will be offered:
- 2,500 one-time National Merit $2,500 Scholarships for which all finalists will be considered, and that are supported by business organizations and NMSC’s own funds
- approximately 1,000 corporate sponsored Merit Scholarships that are specified for finalists who meet a company or business grantor’s preferential criteria
- approximately 4,800 college sponsored Merit Scholarships that are available only for finalists who will attend their respective sponsor institution.
All Merit Scholar designees are chosen on the basis of their abilities, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference.