East Lyme, Old Lyme Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

THE LYMES, CT — The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of over 16,000 semifinalists in its scholarship program. Five students from East Lyme and Old Lyme were included, according to a statement from the program.

The academically talented students will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth $26 million.

Here are the local students that made the semifinals.

East Lyme High School

• Avneeta Basu
• Jack Faitsch
• Spencer Sekulic

Old Lyme High School

• Rose E. Dimmock
• Alexander L. Glaras

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT last year, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

Semifinalists have submitted a detailed scholarship application with their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

Finalists for the scholarships will be named in February.

All the finalists will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2500 scholarships.

About 830 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 150 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located.

And finally, about 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.