Notre Dame of West Haven Senior Zachary Bilcheck ‘17 Named National Merit Scholarship Finalist

West Haven – Notre Dame President Robert F. Curis announced that senior Zachary Bilcheck ‘17 has advanced to the Finalist stage of the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Competition.

Bilcheck, who was named a semifinalist in the Fall, is among the top 15,000 academically-talented high school seniors and is now eligible to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Awards totaling approximately $33 million in scholarships. Four major news media announcements of Merit Scholar designees will be made by NMSC in April, May, June, and July. Typically, 90 percent of semifinalists attain finalist standing with half of those finalists earning the National Merit Scholar title.

Bilcheck, who hails from Milford and attended East Shore Middle School, has been a four-year participant with the Math Team, Christian Student Mission Club, Latin Club, Chess Club, and Stage Crew. A member of the National, Latin, and Math Honor Societies, Bilcheck was elected President of the National Honor Society at the start of the school year, as well president of Latin and Math Honor Society from last year. Selected as a senior peer counselor, he will also serve as captain of the Math Team as a senior. He has received the prestigious Yale Book Award and University of Portland Biology Award, and RPI medal at past year’s Honors Convocations, while also receiving the Latin III Award.

“We are thrilled that Zachary has advanced to the Finalist stage of the National Merit Scholarship Competition,” said President Robert F. Curis. “Zach has worked very hard on his coursework and is also very active and present in the Notre Dame and Milford communities. He is an excellent example of the success achieved through hard work, dedication, and openness to those who teach. We wish him luck in advancing to the finalist stage.”

Bilcheck has also held leadership positions such as President of both the Latin and Chess Clubs as a junior and senior, co-President of CSMC as a sophomore and senior, and Stage Manager for the Stage Crew as a senior. Bilcheck is also a multi-year member of Team ND and BRO (Brothers Reaching Others).

Outside of Notre Dame, Bilcheck spent his summer in an extensive six-week “Discovery to Cure” internship program at the Yale University School of Medicine. He has also volunteered for the last several years with the Challenger Baseball Program and at Yale New Haven Hospital, while also finding time to take part in fencing for the last five years.