2 Massapequa Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

MASSAPEQUA, NY — Two students from the Massapequa School District were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists today. They are among approximately 16,000 students around the country to be named semifinalists.

The semifinalists from Massapequa are Matthew W. McAuley and Hayley V. Tan.

The students are now in the running for one of 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, about 95 percent of the semifinalists will be named finalists, and about half of the finalists will win a scholarship.

Students were entered into the contest by taking the 2020 PSAT exam. To become a finalist, the student and the school must submit a detailed application, which includes info about the student's academic record, school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards.

The final winners of the scholarships will be announced in four waves, beginning next April and going through July.