Westfield High Has Four National Merit Scholarship Finalists

WESTFIELD — The Westfield School District announced on Wednesday that four Westfield High School seniors are finalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. Students first become eligible based on their PSAT scores in high school, and ultimately must submit an essay for consideration for a coveted $2,500 scholarship.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation notified principals across the country this week of the finalists.

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 March to June, 7,600 students are notified that they have been chosen for a scholarship. Most will win $2,500 scholarships for college, but some may win an award from a company or from a particular college.

According to the NMSC website, "A variety of information is available for NMSC selectors to evaluate: the finalist's academic record, information about the school's curricula and grading system, PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index score, the high school official's written recommendation, information about the student's activities and leadership, and the finalist's own essay. "

The finalists from WHS are Julia Tompkins, Connie Liu, Aidan Kilbourn, and Ian Gurland.