Two East Meadow Students Named National Merit Finalists

Two seniors from the East Meadow School District — Jordan Diamond from East Meadow High School and Alby Joseph from W.T. Clarke High School — have been recognized as finalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.

To become one of the nation’s 15,000 finalists, the two had to submit a detailed scholarship application including their academic record, participation in extracurricular activities and community engagement, leadership ability, employment, and record of honors and awards. They also had to achieve an SAT score equivalent to their PSAT score, maintain their prestigious academic performance and receive a recommendation from a high school official.

The seniors will be notified this spring as to whether they are among the 7,500 students who have been selected to receive awards and scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Program based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments. Members of the NMS committee will evaluate the students’ academic records, the curricula and grading systems at their schools, and their SAT scores, high school officials’ recommendations, information about their activities and leadership, and finalist essays.

“I was pretty excited when I heard I was a finalist,” said Diamond. “This advancement is a rewarding reflection of my hard work. I believe the additional materials I submitted to the competition, such as the personal essay, also contributed to this designation.”

Diamond is involved in numerous organizations at East Meadow High School, including membership in the National Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society. He also serves as president of Model Congress, the Environmental Club, and the Math and Research Club. In addition, he belongs to the school’s peer mentoring program, where he educates younger students about bullying and the dangers of alcohol and drug consumption. Within the program, he also mentors a fellow East Meadow High School student, providing guidance and friendship throughout the year.

Outside of school, Diamond volunteers as a student teacher at his temple, teaching Hebrew to sixth graders. He also interned at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, where he researched how American journalists wrote about the Holocaust and its development in Germany during the 1930s and ’40s. His research was featured in exhibits for museumgoers.

Jordan hopes to major in mathematics after graduation.

W.T. Clarke High School’s Alby Joseph balances a rigorous schedule of Advanced Placement and college-level courses while immersing himself in an assortment of extracurricular activities. Among these, he is co-president of the school’s Tri-M Music, Science and National honor societies. He is also a member of the Math Honor Society, the school newspaper, Mathletes and Science Olympiad.

With a passion for the cello, he has performed for the last three years in the pit orchestra for the school’s plays, in the All-State Festival, at the New York State School Music Association 2016 Winter Conference, and will perform at the upcoming National Association for Music Education’s 2017 Biennial Eastern Division Conference, the Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Festival and the Long Island String Festival Association’s Nassau Secondary Festival.

Along with this exceptional achievement, Joseph was recognized as a scholar in the 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search and was named a semifinalist in the 2016 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology.

“After hearing I was a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, I realized how appreciative I am for my time at Clarke,” said Joseph. “I am beyond thankful for the opportunities I had while growing up in the East Meadow School District.”

In the fall, Joseph wishes to study chemical engineering.

Alby Joseph, left, and Jordan Diamond. Photos: East Meadow School District.