8 Smithtown HS Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

SMITHTOWN, NY - Eight Smithtown students were among 16,000 across the country who were named Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program on Wednesday.

All of the semifinalists are high school seniors chosen from schools across the country and are competing for $31 million worth of scholarships. Of the semifinalists, 15,000 will go on to be finalists and earn a scholarship, with some going even further.

From Smithtown High School West, the following students were named semifinalists:

• Catherine A. Eng
• Emily E. Eng
• Michael J. Fischetti

Pictured (from left) Semifinalists Emily Eng, Catherine Eng and Michael Fischetti pictured with Principal
John Coady and guidance counselor Nicole Dean

Photo courtesy of the Smithtown school district

From Smithtown High School East, the following students were named semifinalists:

• Rileigh L. Dowling
• Justin McArdle
• Matthew R. Mullahy
• Dylan A. Ross
• Ian T. Winkeler

Pictured: Principal Dr. Kevin Simmons (left) and guidance counselors with the National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. From left: Ian Winkeler, Dylan Ross, Rileigh Dowling, Matthew Mullahy and Justin McArdle.

Photo courtesy of the Smithtown school district

More than 1.6 million students around the country entered the competition by taking the PSAT or the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

In order to become a finalist, the students must submit a detailed application which includes information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record through-out high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Congratulations to the semifinalists!

Image via Google Maps