Three Westfield Students Are Named National Merit Semifinalists

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield High School seniors Grace Endy, Samantha Salz, and Maxwell Scialabba have been named semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program, a designation awarded to fewer than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors. They will get the chance to compete for a college scholarship in spring.

Students were first identified as semifinalists based on their PSAT score in 2019. To become a finalist, the student and a high school official will have to submit a detailed scholarship application including honors and grades, and write an essay.

From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level in February. Finalists will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, as well as 1,000 corporate scholarships. The next round will be announced in February.

“This is a great honor and it speaks volumes about your strength of character and commitment to your education,” WHS principal Mary Asfendis wrote in a letter to the semifinalists. “On behalf of the Westfield High School administration and faculty, please know that we are very proud of what you have accomplished.”

Asfendis also congratulated nine WHS students who have been recognized for their exceptional academic promise as Commended Students in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program:

• Kyle Azzaretto
• Karan Chulliparambil
• Olivia Ebel
• Jonathan Keenan
• Mira Mehta
• Sophia Nazzaro
• Aprina Wang
• Benjamin Zakharenko
• Kailey Zhao

The process begins when students take their PSAT as a sophomore or junior in high school. Approximately 34,000 students are chosen as Commended scholars, and 16,000 are notified that they are semifinalists.

In February of their senior year, 15,000 semifinalists are notified by mail that they have become finalists.

From April through July, approximately 7,600 students are notified that they have been chosen for a scholarship. Most will win the $2,500 scholarships for college, but some may win an award from a company or from a particular college.

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