Academic Excellence Recognized at SHS Annual Reception

On October 24, 2019, Simsbury High School (SHS) Interim Principal Stephen Patrina hosted an annual breakfast reception to acknowledge the academic excellence of 17 members of the senior Class of 2020 who achieved the distinction of being named a Commended Student and 4 students who further achieved Semifinalist status, as recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program and the National Achievement Scholarship Program. There are approximately 1.6 million students nationwide who take the qualifying Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), usually in the student’s junior year. This test has served as the initial screen for the competition each year since 1955. Only the top 50,000 students are identified for recognition—approximately 16,000 Semifinalists and 34,000 Commended Students.
Patrina announced each student’s name and awarded each a certificate of achievement. Family members were invited to the reception, which was well attended, and many SHS faculty and school counseling staff stopped by to congratulate the students that they had taught or guided throughout their school career.

“This is always a special day for us,” said Patrina, and on behalf of all those who supported these high-achieving students along their academic journey. “Parents, teachers, counselors…it takes a village to get to this pinnacle.”

He added, “My message here at SHS is always about passion and pride. There is no more pride than on this day.”

Seniors who have earned the National Merit Semifinalist designation and will continue in the 2020 National Merit competition to potentially qualify for Finalist distinction are:

• Daniel Jun
• Venkat Kidambi
• Catherine Rodney
• Madeline Zackeo

Commended students are:

• Josiah Bargmann
• Claire Choi
• Lindsay Correll
• Madelyn Dempsey
• Tanner Eustace
• William Heller
• Anthea Luo
• Aanya Mehta
• Mohammad Mundiwala
• Daniel Nelson
• Ryan Penney
• Riley Peterson
• Zoe Raposo
• Benjamin Rees
• Anna Shellman
• Isaac Smith
• Sharvil Trifale