National Merit Semifinalists Named From McLean High Schools

McLean VA

15 September, 2021

2:52 PM

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Students from McLean high schools have been named 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, taking the first step in securing a scholarship in the competitive program. On Wednesday, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced approximately 16,000 semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of high school seniors in the U.S. Students were entered into the competition as juniors by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists were the highest scoring entrants in each state, and the number chosen from each state is proportional to its share of graduating seniors in the U.S. Here are the students from McLean schools who have achieved semifinalist status: Sonja Bakker, BASIS IndependentSpencer Huang, BASIS Independent Sophie Poellnitz, BASIS IndependentNathan Cao, Langley High SchoolBinh Huynh, Langley High SchoolRyan Jones, Langley High SchoolErika W. Li, Langley High SchoolCasey Lim, Langley High SchoolChan-Ho Oh, Langley High SchoolWilliam Orr, Langley High SchoolElaine J. Zou, Langley High SchoolAshley K. Zheng, The Madeira SchoolAvery Barnett, McLean High SchoolJack Deutsch, McLean High SchoolNathaniel Garcia, McLean High SchoolEmilie Kim, McLean High SchoolPaul H. Kim, McLean High SchoolCynthia Ma, McLean High SchoolVictor Pan, McLean High SchoolSonghan Pang, McLean High SchoolJoyce Qi, McLean High SchoolJuliana Toro, McLean High SchoolStefan Van Biljon, McLean High SchoolKelvin S. Yuan, McLean High SchoolCathy R. Zhang, McLean High SchoolBenjamin Choi, The Potomac SchoolOwen Diesenhaus, The Potomac School Grant F. Exley, The Potomac SchoolKatherine E. Fischer, The Potomac SchoolMichael Regan, The Potomac SchoolThomas Takis, The Potomac School Margaret Taylor, The Potomac SchoolYumn Teshome, The Potomac School About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to finalist standing, and over half of the finalists will win about National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million next spring. To be considered as a finalist, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application with information about the student's academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. The semifinalist must demonstrate an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay. Scholarship winners will be chosen based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. There are three kinds of scholarships finalists will compete for, corporate-sponsored, college or university-sponsored and National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation's own $2,500 Scholarships will be awarded to 2,500 students on a state-representational basis. Around 1,000 corporate-sponsored scholarships will be provided by about 220 corporations and business organizations for students who meet their criteria. For example, the criteria may include being children of an employee at the sponsoring business or residents of communities where the business has locations or offices. Around 180 colleges and universities are expected to fund about 4,100 awards for finalists who will attend their school. Winners will be announced in four groups between April and July 2022.