Six Cherokee Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — All six of the Cherokee County School District’s 2020 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists have been named finalists.

They are:

• Cherokee High School: Anna DeYoung
• Creekview High School: Jack Eno and Lyriel Todd
• River Ridge High School: Alicia Mazzurra and Sathvika Narasimhan
• Woodstock High School: Dayne J. Bergman

Less than 1 percent of 1.5 million U.S. high school seniors who take the SAT are named National Merit semi-finalists, and to advance to finalist status is an even more exclusive accomplishment, as well as the next step on the path to earning scholarship dollars. The finalists now will vie for 7,600 scholarships valued at $31 million to be awarded this spring.

“We’re so proud of these scholars and hope to see them earn scholarships in recognition of their successes,” Superintendent of Schools Brian Hightower said. “National Merit finalists represent not only among our brightest students, but also leaders in their schools and community.”

To advance from semi-finalist to finalist, students had to earn SAT scores than confirmed their outstanding 2018 PSAT performance; receive an endorsement and recommendation from a high school official; and impress the judges with their application essay and record of academic achievements, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors.