Perpich Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist

Perpich Senior Mary Pfeifer has been named a National Merit Semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Mary Pfeifer is a Visual Arts student from Rochester, Minnesota, and the daughter of Margaret and Eric Pfeifer.

National Merit Semifinalists are determined by their performance on the Preliminary SAT test (PSAT.) The PSAT was administered last year when students were juniors. More than 1.5 million juniors in more than 21,000 high schools took that test, officials say. Mary is among the top 16,000 high school seniors (less than 1%) in the country on this academic measure. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered this spring.

Conn McCartan, Interim High School Principal said, “The Perpich school community congratulates Mary on this amazing accomplishment. Having scholars that are among the nation’s best in our halls reinforces our reputation as a national leader in artistic and academic excellence.”

The next step for our semifinalist is to submit a detailed scholarship application, providing information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards received, etc. Finalists will be announced in February, and those who advance will learn as early as April whether they’ve earned a scholarship.

Nationally, 2,500 will earn the most prestigious prize – a one-time $2,500 National Merit Scholarship by being named National Merit Scholars. Another 5,000 will receive college and corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 per year.

Perpich Arts High School, in Golden Valley, Minnesota, opened its doors in 1989 and graduated its first class in 1991. No other school like Perpich exists in Minnesota. It is a tuition-free, public, residential arts high school for students in 11th and 12th grades. The school is part of Perpich Center for Arts Education, a state agency funded by the State of Minnesota. Students who wish to attend Perpich Arts High School must go through a competitive application and review process. Those accepted have shown artistic promise and a strong commitment to serious study in the arts and academics. The school stresses arts and academics equally and emphasizes creative and analytical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making.

http://perpich.mn.gov/perpich-senior-named-national-merit-semifinalist/