National Merit Scholars Announced For Staples High School

WESTPORT, CT — Four Staples High School seniors have been named finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. As Merit Scholar finalists, Nicole Arellano, Jessica Xu, Marshall Heiser and Leya Luo all have a chance to earn one of 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards, together worth more than $35 million.

Final scholarship winners, chosen from a group of more than 16,000 finalists, may be notified by NMSC as early as March, according to a release. 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.

To become a finalist, these students met the following criteria: have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance. The Semifinalist and a school official then had to submit a detailed scholarship application, which included the student’s essay and information about the Semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.

"These students are scholars due to their performance in the classroom, but more importantly, they are fine citizens of our school, and represent many of the best qualities of the Staples High School community," Staples High School Principal James D'Amico said in a release. "This honor is a source of pride for their families, teachers and administrators who have helped them grow throughout their school careers. I congratulate these students, and everyone who has supported them on their journey."

Pictured from left to right: Nicole Arellano, Jessica Xu, Marshall Heiser, Leya Luo

Photo credit: Lisa Marriott