District 155 Announces National Merit Scholar Students

Community High School District 155 has announced National Merit Scholar students for 2012.

Sixteen students from the district's four high schools were named National Merit Commended Students, according to Jeff Puma, director of communications for District 155.

Five students, all seniors, are National Merit Scholar seminfinalists, who will continue the NMS application process.

Cary-Grove High School had seven commended students and two semifinalists. Principal Jay Sargeant said the number of students recognized this year - just like last year - is higher than most.

"In a typical year, we get one or two commended students," Sargeant said. "Last year, we had 10 commended and three finalists. This year's class is right up there with last year's."

Students who scored high on PSAT/NMSQT received letters of commendation in September recognizing their "academic promise."

Commended students are selected based on a nationally applied selection index score, which typically is below the level required for participants to be named semifinalists in their respective states, Puma said.

"Although commended students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses," Puma said.

About 16,000 students nationwide, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, were notified in early September they qualified as semifinalists. Semifinalists are designated on a state basis. The selected students are the highest scoring entrants in each state, Puma said.

NMSC provides scholarship application materials to semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and other requirements, Puma said.

Finalists are notified in February if they reach that level.

The list of commended students and seminfinalists for District 155 include:

Cary-Grove High School

• Alexander Bussan
• Jackson Carhart
• Ryan DiCicco – National Merit Scholar Semifinalist
• Kayla Faust
• Ryan Lammers
• Sarah Lawhun
• Greg Rosenthal – National Merit Scholar Semifinalist
• Daniel Sheehan
• Andrew Zaruba

 Crystal Lake Central High School

• Nicholas Longfield
• Madelyn Popp

 Crystal Lake South High School

• Lauren Barmore – National Merit Scholar Semifinalist
• Irene Feng – National Merit Scholar Semifinalist
• Daniel Knudsen
• Andrew Koltun – National Merit Scholar Semifinalist
• Virginia Van Vianen

 Prairie Ridge High School

• Joseph Cowlin
• Nicholas MacDonald
• Thomas Kojs
• Nitesh Nath
• Johanna Sveden