11 Students at Eagan Schools Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

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Eagan residents have 11 new reasons to be proud of their local schools.

That's how many students attending school in Eagan were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists in September, according to a news release issued by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a nonprofit organization based in Evanston, Ill.

The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The semifinalists include:

• Justin T. Dietz
• Madison R. Janvrin
• Paulina S. Marell
• Eleanor M. Schriner
• Nicholas J. Studenski
• Sylesh Volla
• Kevin Wei
• Aliya Zhdanov

• Molly P. Andersen
• Henry C. Croll
• Madeline Johnson

According to the news release, roughly 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT, or PSAT.

The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school,
be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level and February will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of finalists.

Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.