Port Jefferson Boasts National Merit Semifinalist

Press release from the Port Jefferson School District:

Sept. 27, 2021

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Andrew Patterson has qualified as a semifinalist in the 67th National Merit Scholarship Program.

A three-season athlete – captain of the soccer team and member of the winter and spring track team – Andrew now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, he must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. More than 90% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

Andrew is also a member of the school’s Latin Club, National Honor Society and Science Olympiad team. Outside of school, he is a member of the Port Jefferson Fire Department. He is among approximately 16,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the semifinalist distinction and who represent the top 1% with the highest scores on the qualifying Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Finalists will be named in February and the National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in spring 2022.

This press release was produced by the Port Jefferson School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.