Two Hills Seniors are Merit Semifinalists
By Eleanor Mathews
Two members of Watchung Hills Regional High School’s Class of 2007 achieved Semifinalist standing in the current National Merit Scholarship Program competition. They are: Hashim Chaudhry and Lalit Gurnani, both of Watchung.
The youth are among the highest-scoring New Jersey students who took the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test for college-bound students last fall, and they are also among the top one percent of the nation’s Class of 2007.
Nationwide, more than 1.4 million juniors in nearly 21,000 high schools entered the 2007 National Merit Program by taking the 2005 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. Of this number, approximately 16,000 students nationwide achieved semifinalist rank, and, as Semifinalists, they become eligible to advance in competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards (worth $33million) to be distributed next spring. Semifinalist eligibility may differ from state to state, as the number of Semifinalists named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of high school graduating seniors.
In order to proceed to Finalist standing, the Semifinalists must fulfill additional requirements. These include a high grade point average in college-preparatory courses, evidence of leadership and service in school and community, and the endorsement and recommendation by their high school principal. They must, of course, also attain high scores on the SATs which they take in their senior year.
Three types of scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2007. It is anticipated that approximately 15,000 students nationwide will advance to Finalist standing and thus be in the running for one of the 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis. In addition, some 300 corporations and business organizations will underwrite about 1,100 scholarships for Finalists who meet their specific criteria. Also, about 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsoring institutions.
While not every Semifinalist will receive National Merit scholarship funds, they are all worthy of commendation. They are courted by colleges for they show outstanding ability and the potential for success in advanced studies.
By spotlighting the Semifinalists, the not-for-profit National Merit Scholarship Corporation hopes to increase the public’s interest in academic excellence and to encourage support for the education of talented young people. Since its inception in 1955, the not-for-profit National Merit Scholarship Corporation has honored more than 242,000 distinguished young people across the nation as Merit Scholars.
Watchung Hills’ Principal, Dr. Tom Di Ganci, presented the Semifinalists with Certificates of Merit from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and, on behalf of the school and the community, extended congratulations to the honorees. The newly-revised , more vigorous format of the exam made their accomplishment even more noteworthy, he said.
Two are Semifinalists
Two members of Watchung Hills Regional High School’s Class of 2007, Hashim Chaudhry (left) and Lalit Gurnani, were named Semifinalists in the 52nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. They scored in the top one percent of New Jersey’s Class of 2007 and are now eligible to continue in the 2007 competition for Merit Scholarships. Dr. Tom Di Ganci, principal, extends them congratulations, along with certificates of achievement for their accomplishments in the national exam.
