6 Plainview-Old Bethpage Seniors Are Semifinalist For Prestigious Honors Program

PLAINVIEW, NY — Six members of the Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School Class of 2026 are semifinalists in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Program.

They are among 1.3 million entrants nationwide and entered the competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

The students are Matthew Fitzgerald, Soha Jhaveri, Seok Hoon Lee, Claire Lim, Dylan Stal and Ethan Torres.

In February 2026, roughly 15,000 of the 16,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to finalist standing. These finalists will then be eligible to compete for nearly 6,390 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $26 million.

“Congratulations to these students on this incredible academic accomplishment,” said Dr. Heather Dvorak, Principal of John F. Kennedy High School. “It is not only a testament to the hard work of these students, but also that of the collective efforts of our entire Plainview-Old Bethpage educational community in nurturing these talented students’ abilities.”

The POBJFKHS semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and have scored among the highest in the state.