Mattituck High School Senior Named National Merit Scholarship Finalist

MATTITUCK, NY — A Mattituck High School senior has made his family and community proud: Micky Kalich has been designated a National Merit Scholarship finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

“We are extremely proud of Micky Kalich and his outstanding academic accomplishments,” said Superintendent of Schools Shawn Petretti. “His dedication and commitment to achieving his academic goals is evident in this national recognition.”

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition which began in 1955. Each year, about 1.5 million high school students enter the competition, the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District said.

Students who meet the competition requirements enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by participating in the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test PSAT/NMSQT, usually as junior. Of the 1.5 million entrants, about 50,000 students with the highest PSAT/NMSQT selection index scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program as either commended students or semifinalists, the district said.

About 15,000 semifinalists are designated as finalists and receive a certificate of merit; later this academic school year, 7,500 finalists will receive a one-time National Merit Scholarship, the district said. Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee including college admission officers and high school counselors, the district said.

Micky, the district said, has been an active student throughout high school including as a member of Mathletes, the Mattitalk, captain of the sailing team and a member of the varsity baseball team. Upon graduation, Micky is planning to pursue a degree in computer engineering.