15 Westport Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

WESTPORT, CT — Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation on Wednesday announced the names of over 16,000 semifinalists, including 15 from Pierrepont School and Staples High School, in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

Semifinalists from Pierrepont School are:

• Alexis K. Bienstock
• Williams Jin
• Arnav C. Krishna

Semifinalists from Staples High School are:

• Aalok Bhattacharya
• James Cao
• Sharmila A. Green
• Emma Losonczy
• Colin A. Morgeson
• Gavin Thomas Rothenberg
• Katharine A. Shackelford
• Matthew Shackelford
• Tegh A. Singh
• Lucia J. Wang
• Lilly B. Weisz
• Tom X. Zhang

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95 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.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2023. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 950 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by about 180 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.