National Merit Scholarships Go To 2 Millburn Students

MILLBURN, NJ — After jumping numerous hurdles to qualify for a National Merit Scholarship to college, two of the winners from Millburn have been announced on Wednesday. Only those winning corporate-sponsored scholarships were announced so far; more may be announced later.

The winners announced Wednesday are:

• Maria D. Beloreshka, whose probable career field is engineering. She won the National Merit Marsh McLennan Scholarship. Marsh McLennan's companies provide advice and solutions providers in risk, strategy and human capital.
• Veronica H. Song, whose probable career field is computer science, won a National Merit Novartis Scholarship. Novartis' companies are manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.

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, Millburn High School had a whopping 32 semifinalists. South Orange-Maplewood had 10 semifinalists, Livingston had eight, Summit High School had five, Chatham High School had three, Westfield High had two, Scotch Plains High had two, and Madison High had two.

Two Livingston students were announced Wednesday as winning corporate scholarships as well.

Most New Jersey high schools with more than 10 were magnet or private schools.

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