3 Royal Oak Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

Three Royal Oak High School seniors have been named 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists:

• Timothy Cook
• Sean Tarr
• Alexander Woznicki

These students were named by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation based on outstanding academic performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test taken as juniors. Approximately 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2016 National Merit competition.

The nationwide pool of 16,000 semifinalists, represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.

Tarr’s parents are Pat and Bill Tarr. At ROHS, Tarr participates in Model United Nations, Chess Club, National Honor Society, Nature Collective, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

Woznicki is the son of Lori and Tony Woznicki. He plays the piano and violin and volunteers at William Beaumont Hospital. At ROHS he is involved in Model United Nations, Robotic Club and National Honor Society.

These students are making use of the opportunities available at Royal Oak High School to complete Advanced Placement coursework, which provide students the opportunity to complete college level courses while attending high school.

As semifinalists, they are among the academically talented high school seniors who have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition and provide information including academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Finalists will be announced in February.