21 WPHS Seniors Recognized in National Merit Competitions

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Eight White Plains High School seniors were named Semifinalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Competition. 

The students are:  Matthew Africano, Aneesh Bhattacharya, Emmett Caruso, Isabelle Daly, Adam Jaffe, Jens Sannerud, Eric Smiley and Benjamin Van Doren.

Approximately 16,000 Semifinalists were named nationally, less than one percent of U. S. high school seniors – who will continue in the competition to advance to Finalist level and compete for about 8,300 scholarships worth more than $34 million. 

The program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Commended students in this competition program are: Shaina Brady, Rong-Si Deng, Rachel Eddy, Jordan Grobe, Alyssa Habermann, Michael Lau, Khalilah Lushiku and William Tunney.

In the National Achievement Scholarship Program, which provides recognition for outstanding Black American high school students, Khalilah Lushiku and Cheyenne Vlymen-Williams are Semi-finalists and Ty Matsushita was named Outstanding Participant.

Three students were named National Hispanic Recognition Scholars:  Matthew Africano, Selina Thompson and Ana Velasquez. John Medelius received Honorable Mention.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Program, to honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.