Albuquerque Public Schools: National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

Press release from Albuquerque Public Schools:

October 22, 2021

Thirty-two Albuquerque Public Schools high school seniors from seven high schools have been named semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.  That is the most we can remember having in any one year. And La Cueva has 19 -- the most of any school in the state and the most they've ever had. 

To qualify as a semifinalist, students earned top scores on the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.  They took the test in October 2020 - in the middle of the pandemic!  Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. They will be notified in the spring if they are finalists.

APS semifinalists are:

• from Albuquerque High School: 
• Alexander S. Maynes-Pointon,
• Malcolm Parnall, 
• Kaya A. Perce,
• and Anastasia Smith;
• from College and Career High School: 
• Zoey Michel E. Adams,
• and Alyssa L. Cunningham;
• from Early College Academy: 
• Pierce O. Christison,
• and Savannah L. Davidson;
• from Eldorado High School: 
• Adam G Oliphant, 
• Ainsley A. Paas,
• and Joseph R. Watson; 
• from La Cueva High School: 
• Pascal R. Andreas, 
• Rahul Chalamala, 
• Milidu N. Jayaweera, 
• Frankie B. Jones, 
• Andrew Kim, 
• Prashamsa Koirala,
• Oliver L. Kuang, 
• Elan Z. Landau, 
• Henry Li,
• Derrick T. Niu,
• Yana A. Outkin,
• Anna Rodas,
• Mario F. Sumali, 
• Emilia Vignogna-Browne, 
• Benjamin A. Willhite, 
• Janie Xiong,
• Jenny Xiong,
• Melody F. Yeh,
• and Brandon Yoo;
• from Manzano High School: 
• Mason C. Parrish;
• and from Sandia High School: 
• Annette I. Miller.

Congratulations to each of these exemplary students!

This press release was produced by Albuquerque Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.