4 Phoenixville Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — High school students in the Phoenixville area are once again making the area proud. Four students have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, the Scholarship Corporation recently announced.

More than 1.6 million students around the country entered the competition by taking the PSAT or the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. They're competing for 7,500 different scholarships, worth $31 million all told.

Phoenixville Area High School semifinalists include the following students:

• Noah McCarthy
• Kevin Wang
• Connor B. Wilchusky

In addition, one Phoenixville homeschooled student was named a semifinalist:

• Andrew LoPolito

Semifinalists must have an outstanding high school academic record, meet SAT score requirements, submit an essay and get a recommendation from a high school official. To advance to the finalist stage, semifinalists and his or her high school must submit an application detailing the academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership, employment and honors received. Scholars are chosen based on their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in college.

More than 90 percent of semifinalists will become finalists, and about half of these will end up with scholarships.

There are three types of National Merit Scholarships available: 2,500 scholarships sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation itself, 1,000 corporate-sponsored scholarships, and an expected 4,000 college-sponsored scholarships.

Winners will be announced from April through July 2019.

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