Cold Spring Harbor HS Has National Merit Semifinalist

COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY — Annabelle Coles, a senior at Cold Spring Harbor Jr/Sr High School, has qualified as a 2023 National Merit Semifinalist, according to the school district.

This prestigious honor is awarded to students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Nationwide, semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and include the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Coles entered the competition by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test which served as an initial screening of program entrants.

"The Cold Spring Harbor Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools Jill M. Gierasch, Cold Spring Harbor Jr./Sr. High School Principal Dan Danbusky, administrators and staff congratulate Anabelle on her prestigious academic achievement and wish her continued success in the competition," the school district stated.

In each annual National Merit Scholarship Program, about 50,000 academically talented high school students are honored, but only roughly 16,000 of them are named semifinalists. Students who qualify as semifinalists based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) are the only program participants who have an opportunity to advance to the finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships.

Of the approximate 16,000 semifinalists, approximately 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level where they will compete to earn National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million.

To become a finalist in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, the semifinalist must submit a detailed scholarship application including an outstanding academic record throughout high school, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership skills, employment, and a list of honors and awards received.

Semifinalists must also be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay
and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Semifinalists advancing to the finalist level will be announced in February 2023. The National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in spring 2023.