2 Earl Vandermeulen HS Students National Merit Scholar Semifinalists

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Olivia Schlegel have qualified as semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program, Port Jefferson School District officials said.

The two "academically-talented students have an opportunity" to compete for about 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring, according to school district officials.

The pair must meet several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition, school district officials said, adding that close to 95 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.