Westwood Students Recognized for National Scholarship Program

Thirteen Westwood High School seniors have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) for their performance in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Westwood High Principal Emily Parks presented a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, to the seniors who have achieved top academic standards.

"I think it's really great for us to have been recognized for something so elite," said Melanie Zahka, a senior at Westwood High School who, among 10 others, were acknowledged for their work in the program.

More than 1.5 million students entered the 2011 National Merit Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. 

The national pool of semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. 

Alison Campion and Thomas McNulty, both Westwood seniors, have been named semifinalists, and 11 other seniors have been acknowledged as Commended Students:

• Tommy Hu
• Jacob Indursky
• Michael Lannum
• Jacqueline Martin
• Steven McCarthy
• Alison McNulty
• Shayan Salam
• Leah Schroeder
• Marina Shkuratov
• Hani Singer
• Melanie Zahka

"We are proud to have the achievements of our students recognized by the National Merit Program," said Emily Parks in a statement. "This recognition reflects the commitment to learning these students demonstrate each day at WHS."

Several of the students explained what the commendation meant to them, how they felt about being recognized, and their goals of the down the road.

"We're all excited for what's in our future," said Campion. "But it's a pretty stressful time for us, so it's great to be recognized for doing something great."

Alison McNulty agreed, adding, "Yes, it's definitely nice to hear some good news during some stressful times."

While times are certainly stressful for a high school senior, these students had high spirits and were laughing and joking with each other.

Leah Schroeder said that she was looking forward to the next step after graduation. Some students talked about plans for college, but said that they had applied to so many that they didn't want to mention them all.

Others talked about the possibility of traveling and seeing the world beyond suburban Massachusetts. In any event, all were excited about whatever the world was going to throw at them next.

"If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life," said Steven McCarthy.

In order to become a finalist, semifinalists need to have what are considered to be outstanding academic records throughout their high school tenures. They also need to be endorsed and recommended by their high school principal and earn SAT scores that confirm their earlier qualifying test performance.

Semifinalists have the opportunity to continue to compete for the scholarships that are awarded to finalists. The semifinalist and school official must then submit a scholarship application, which includes the student's self-descriptive essay and information about the semifinalist's participation and leadership in school and community activities. 

As part of the program, approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.

For more information, visit www.nationalmerit.org.