18 Syosset Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

Submitted by Syosset Public Schools.

Eighteen Syosset High School students have been designated as semifinalists in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Competition, a distinction that will allow them to be considered as finalists for the prestigious academic award.

The students join a list of only 16,000 others in the nation who have shown similar academic talent and rigor. The Syosset students will be in the running to collect some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $33 million to be handed out this coming spring.

The 18 students are as follows:

Alexander Blumenstock Max Carol

Ritayan Chakraborty Tim Cheung

Emily Gruber Elaine He

Mary Kim Samantha Li

Abrar Nadroo Adam Obedian

Richard Prestegaard Rohith Rokkam

Divij Sharma Rebecca Sobel

Fei Wan Charles K. Wang

Jiwei Zhong Shijun Zhu

“I’m thrilled to hear this news about our students at Syosset High School and I wish them the best of luck as they move into the next phase of this competition,” said Syosset Superintendent Dr. Thomas Rogers. “No matter what happens next, their ambition and academic success has already made them winners in my eyes.”

“I am very proud of our students,” said Syosset Principal Giovanni Durante. “Their hard work and dedication deserves the recognition provided by this semifinalist designation.”

The National Merit Scholarship Program is managed by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Syosset High School Principal Giovanni Durante (left) and Syosset Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Rogers congratulate the district’s 18 National Merit semifinalists.

Photo courtesy of the Syosset Central School District.