Cherokee Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Six Cherokee County School District high school seniors today were named 2020 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists.

They are: of Cherokee High School, Anna DeYoung; of Creekview High School, Jack Eno and Lyriel Todd; of River Ridge High School, Alicia Mazzurra and Sathvika Narasimhan; of Woodstock High School, Dayne J. Bergman.

“Congratulations to these exemplary students, their families and their teachers,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “Earning this recognition is an important academic achievement for these students, who also are known for excellence in classroom, extra-curricular and community activities. We look forward their future success, which we hope includes winning National Merit Scholarships.”

They will be recognized by the Cherokee County School Board and Hightower at the School Board’s meeting this month.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which oversees the prestigious competition, has named 16,000 semi-finalists, who were selected from a pool of 1.5 million students based on outstanding 2018 PSAT scores. Less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors are named semi-finalists.

To be considered as a finalist, the students next will submit a detailed application noting their academic achievements, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors; an endorsement and recommendation from a high school official; and an essay. Students also must earn SAT scores that confirm their PSAT performance.

The anticipated 15,000 finalists will compete for 7,600 scholarships worth about $31 million, which will be awarded in the spring.

An additional eight CCSD high school seniors were named National Merit Commended Students based on their high PSAT scores. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses that will be awarded in the spring.

They are: of Creekview High School, Alexander Baldwin, Brooke Bobo, Chelsea Mandel, Lauren Pitkins, Alyssa Williams; of Woodstock High School, Michael D. Brown, Hayden C. Johnson and Madeline K. Shepard.