Two Penncrest Students Named National Merit Scholars

MEDIA, PA – The Rose Tree Media School District, and more specifically the Penncrest High School has cause to celebrate. Today, two of its students were announced as National Merit Scholars.

Rachel C. Hughes, of Media, and Ryan A. Shah, of Newtown Square, were named scholars, putting them among just 2,500 other students across the country to earn the distinction.

Hughes' probable career field is environmental science while Shah's is biology.

Both students won $2,500 scholarship after going through the long and rigorous process required by the program.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition.

About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title, according to a prepared statement.

More than 1.6 million students were considered for the contest when they took the PSATs in October 2015 as juniors.

Winners are selected purely on merit, without consideration of their family financial circumstances, college choice, major, or career plans.

Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 420 business organizations and higher education institutions, according to the news release.

With reporting by Justin Heinze

Image via Rose Tree Media School District