Maplewood Students Named National Merit Scholar Finalists

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Ten students in the South Orange-Maplewood School District have been announced as National Merit Scholarship finalists, one of the highest numbers among districts in the state.

This means all ten students who were semifinalists last September made it into the finals.

Students first become eligible based on their PSAT scores in high school and ultimately submit an essay for consideration for a coveted $2,500 college scholarship.

The prestigious scholarship is given based on test scores and other qualifications.

The process begins when students take their PSAT as a sophomore or junior in high school. Approximately 34,000 students are then chosen as Commended scholars based on those scores.

In their senior year, 16,000 are notified that they are semifinalists. At the end of this winter 2022, approximately 95 percent of the semifinalists will be notified by mail that they have become finalists. Starting in April 2022, 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 September, Columbia High School had 10 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists, among the highest numbers in the state then as well. Among nearby districts, 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.

These are the finalists at Columbia High School in Maplewood:

• Ella Rose J. Cervi
• Aidan P. Cunningham
• Dylan K. Gill
• Aaaron K. Glassman
• Sydney C. Mannion
• Jadyn Park
• Courtney Bailie Plaza
• Calliope Maria Reeves
• Cole J. Strupp
• Imaan K. Zubieta

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ronald Taylor said, “As a District, we proudly recognize the ten members of the CHS senior class who were named National Merit Finalists for the 2021-2022 school year. We are very proud of them for receiving this prestigious academic recognition.”

“I am proud of every student who earned the distinction of National Merit finalist this year,” CHS Principal Frank Sanchez said. “This year, all ten students who made it to the semi-finalists round (seven more than last year) also moved into the finalists round. This strong result is proof that academic standards in CHS remain high no matter what challenges the pandemic brings."

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