10 Evanston Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

EVANSTON, IL — Ten seniors at Evanston high schools were named semifinalists for 2023 National Merit Scholarships. They include nine students from Evanston Township High School and one from Beacon Academy, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

The 10 local students are among more than 16,000 who qualified nationwide based on the results of their scores on last year's Preliminary SAT test. The number of semifinalists in each state is proportional to its share of the nation's total number of graduating seniors.

Representatives of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the following members of the class of 2023 at Evanston high schools have been named semifinalists:

• Aditi Bharadwaj, Beacon Academy
• Frances Brady, Evanston Township High School
• Emmet J. Ebels Duggan, Evanston Township High School
• Caroline S. Klearman, Evanston Township High School
• Jason M. McDermott, Evanston Township High School
• Sofia J. Shewfelt, Evanston Township High School
• Max T. Smith, Evanston Township High School
• Rex E. Wallin, Evanston Township High School
• Jane O. Watson, Evanston Township High School
• Luca A. Zerega, Evanston Township High School

The Evanston-based nonprofit that sponsors the program distributes three types of scholarships every spring:

• 2,500 cash scholarships from its own funds worth $2,500 each
• about 950 corporate-sponsored awards mostly reserved for the children of various businesses
• about 3,800 college-sponsored scholarships that cover between $500 and $2,000 a year for up to four years of undergraduate study for students set to attend those institution.

In order for semifinalists to qualify as a finalist and become eligible for scholarships, they must submit a detailed application, including an essay and recommendation from a high school official.

Last year, 13 ETHS students, two from Beacon Academy and one from Roycemore School qualified as semifinalists. Five — four from ETHS and one from Beacon — were awarded scholarships earlier this year.

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