Three seniors recognized for exceptional academic promise
Washington Township High School senior Stephen Cozzone has been named a semifinalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Cozzone is among 16,000 semifinalists in the 63rd annual NMSP and can now complete scholarship applications for consideration as a finalist in the competition.
“The high school is extremely proud of this accomplishment,” WTHS Principal Ann Moore said. “Being acknowledged as a National Merit Semifinalist is a great honor and testament to Stephen’s academic ability. This accomplishment will open the door to greater opportunity in a very large way.”
Two Washington Township High School seniors have also been named Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program, Moore said.
Maria Iannone and William Myers are among 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2017 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.6 million students who entered the competition by taking the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
“The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” an NMSC spokesperson said. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2018 NMSP by taking the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
About 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.
Beginning in March 2018, the National Merit Scholarship Competition will notify 7,600 winners of the three types of Merit Scholarship Awards, valued at $32 million: 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarships; 1,000 Corporate-sponsored scholarships; and 4,000 college-sponsored scholarships at 190 colleges. Merit scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference.
