2 National Semifinalists For Avon Lake High School

AVON LAKE, OH — The National Merit Scholarship organization recently announced the National Merit Semifinalists for the class of 2018. Two students from Avon Lake High School earned the designation, the school announced.

Robert Nordman and Morgan Strauss both represent the Shoremen as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. The Avon Lake students beat out 1.6 million students from 22,000 high schools across the nation. The Semifinalists will now have the opportunity to compete for $34 million in National Merit Scholarships.

Both Nordman and Strauss are well-rounded students involved in a wide-ranging slate of activities. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Avon-Avon Lake newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

Nordman, who wants to study computer science in college, is the president of the Chess Club and takes part in the Math and Science Club, Photography Club, Academic Challenge and Drama Club. He's currently considering Boston University, Illinois University, Brown University and The Ohio State University.

Strauss is interested in the fields of engineering and biomedical engineering as possible majors. He's considering attending Northwestern or Georgia Tech. As a student at Avon Lake, he also takes part in Model UN, Science Olympiad, Academic Challenge, National Honor Society and Math and Science Club.

To be named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists a student must submit a detailed application including information on their academic record, extracurriculars, employment, leadership abilities and other honors and awards received. The student must also get a recommendation letter from a faculty member, write an essay and earn a qualifying score on the SAT.

Photo L to R: Robert Nordman and Morgan Strauss

Photo from Avon Lake Schools