Twenty-two students from three of Leander ISD’s six high schools demonstrated exceptional performance on the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) named the following students Semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit® Scholarship Program:
| Cedar Park High School |
| Kolenbrander, Joshua |
| Ou, Joshua |
| Shukla, Pujita |
| Vandegrift High School |
| Clukey, Paul |
| Deng, Bo |
| Gorti, Varun |
| Gray, Connor |
| Hedges, Grace |
| Hong, Raymond |
| Janga, Navya |
| Latorreduque, Matias |
| Lee, Daniel |
| Li, Caroline |
| Sheneman, Brandon |
| Tang, Andrew |
| Tsoi, Michael |
| Xu, Lucy |
| Vista Ridge High School |
| Copeland, Garrett |
| Karimisetty, Meghana |
| Lee, Mia |
| Rao, Ankita |
| Ross, Michael |
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar ® title.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
According to Leander ISD data, the number of LISD high school juniors taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) increased by over 9% from 2016 to 2017.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) named 26 Leander ISD students as Semifinalists in the 2018 National Merit® Scholarship Program which was based on distinguished performance on the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Leander ISD reported a 13% increase in National Merit Semifinalists for the Class of 2018 over the Class of 2017. Leander ISD saw a 15% decrease in National Merit Semifinalists for the Class of 2019 compared to the Class of 2018, for an overall decrease of 26% since 2014.
Students and parents can learn more about the National Merit Scholarship Program at nationalmerit.org. Details on registering to take the 2018 PSAT can be found on Leander ISD’s School and Community Relations website.
NOTE: The PSAT registration deadline is Wednesday, September 19.
Copyright © 2018 Don Stroud