2 Livingston Students Win National Merit Scholarships

LIVINGSTON, NJ — After jumping numerous hurdles to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship to college, two of the winners have been announced on Wednesday. Only those winning corporate-sponsored scholarships were announced Wedneday; other winners may still be announced.

Shourya Bansal and Daniel J. Siegal have won, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Bansal's probably career field is computer science, the NMSC said. Bansal won the National Merit Novartis Scholarship. The Novartis Group companies are manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and health care products.

Siegal won the National Merit Zoetis Inc. Scholarship. Zoetis is an animal health company with more than 60 years of experience in animal health. They discover, develop, manufacture and market veterinary vaccines and medicines, as well as tests.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Starting this month, approximately 7,500 students will be notified that they have been chosen for a Merit Scholarship. Many will receive a $2,500 scholarship for college, but some may win an award from a company or from a particular college.

Last year, among nearby districts, South Orange-Maplewood had 10 semifinalists, Summit High School had five, Chatham High School had three, Westfield High had two, Scotch Plains High had two, and Madison High had two.

Millburn High School had a whopping 32 semifinalists. But most other New Jersey high schools with more than 10 were magnet or private schools.

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