Three Daniel Hand Seniors Named Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

MADISON, CT —National Merit Scholarship Corporation officials today announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, three Daniel Hand High School seniors are among them: Sebastien T. Lowy, Jack C. Signorello, and Max X. Wu.

Described as "academically talented," they will compete for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million to be offered next spring. About 95 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

A not-for-profit organization, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation operates without government assistance with scholarships are underwritten with its own funds and by approximately 400 business organizations and higher education institutions that "share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence," according to a news release issued Wednesday morning.

Wu is part of the two-person team that created the free Shoreline Debate Academy for middle school students.

Lowy is a stand-out Hand tennis and soccer player.

Signorello was inducted into the National Honor Society last spring.