Hudson Valley Students Named National Merit Scholars

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Wednesday this year's National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners, which including 23 students from the Hudson Valley. The 2,500 Merit Scholars were chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. In total, more than 1.6 million students submitted applications for the award.

National Merit Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state's percentage of the nation's graduating high school seniors.

The scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

SEE ALSO: Hudson Valley Students Win Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarships

On April 18, more than 1,000 recipients of corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards were named, and on June 6 and July 16, some 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners will be announced. By the conclusion of this year’s competition, about 7,500 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million.

Here are the National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners from the Hudson Valley:

• Joshua J. Park, Ardsley High School
• Stella Li, Byram Hills High School (Armonk)
• Eric A. Doppelt, Horace Greeley High School (Chappaqua)
• Rebecca N. Thrope, Horace Greeley High School (Chappaqua)
• Katherine L. Ricca, John Jay High School (Cross River)
• Lane E. Carbaugh, John Jay High School (Katonah)
• Kaley R. Mamo, John Jay High School (Katonah)
• Rebecca E. Marcus, Mamaroneck High School (Larchmont)
• Olivia E. Dunne, Rye Neck High School (Mamaroneck)
• Allie J. Liebmann, Rye Neck High School (Mamaroneck)
• Bennett C. Taylor, Rye Neck High School (Mamaroneck)
• Elijah Pomerantz, New Rochelle High School
• Randall C. St. Louis, New Rochelle High School
• Madeline R. Eckhardt, Arlington High School (Pleasant Valley)
• William E. Brakewood, Port Chester High School
• Jeana Chun, Spackenkill High School (Poughkeepsie)
• Carson A. Peck, Fox Lane High School (Pound Ridge)
• Ethan D. Husted, Red Hook Central High School
• Jared R. Cole, Ardsley High School (Scarsdale)
• Eric D. Hansen, Scarsdale High School
• Kailas Amin, John Jay High School (South Salem)
• Christopher W. Scazzero, Regis High School (West Harrison)
• Tiffany L. Gonzalez, Yonkers High School

Image via Shutterstock.