Page Jones
Reporter
National Merit Scholarship
The National Merit Scholarship award is an academic scholarship competition that gives scholarships to students who score above a certain level on their PSATs. “The National Merit has a national standard that has been set by the College Board,” College and Career Center Coordinator Susan Carroll said.
“The first qualification is to take the PSATs in October of junior year. If scores meet the standards, an application is filled out that includes extracurricular activities, a personal essay, SAT scores and a guidance counselor recommendation” semifinalist senior Meghan Callahan said.
National Honors Society
Unlike the National Merit, National Honor Society (NHS) is not a national standard. The NHS has different standards depending on the high school. Questions are often raised on whether the National Merit Scholarship is better than the NHS. Mrs. Carroll feels that they are just looked at differently. “They are both looked very highly upon,” she said, “ But, the National Merit is a national standard, so that is the main difference.”
2012 National Merit Commended Scholars
Eric Persky, Louis Hagopian, Katie Gummeson, Lily Citrin, Harrison Besser, Sam Murray,Matt Windas, Tim Casavant, Clayton Michael, Jessica Sandor, David Luchs, Rebecca Trinklein, Julia Hardy, Juliet Guynn, Alyssa Thompson, William Burger, Jackie Cloud, Quinn Gruver, Jessica Laird, Trip Means
2012 National Hispanic Recognition Program
This past year, two of NCHS’s students were recognized for the National Hispanic Recognition Program. “ The program is recognition for Hispanic students who achieved high scores on their PSATs” senior Charlie Freyre, one of the students recognized along with senior Kaylee Brea, said.
2012 National Achievement Scholar
This past year Senior Devaun Bovell was recognized as an Outstanding Participant for the National Achievement Scholar award. “I qualified for this award by scoring in the top 3% of African American students on the PSATs in 2011,” Devaun said.
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Olivia Hompe
Meghan Callahan
