Mehlville High School senior Harrison Hong and Oakville High School senior Morgan Allen were named 2019 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.
Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes students who scored the highest on the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in each state. There are about 16,000 semifinalists.
"Morgan Allen is one of those kids that you hope your own kids grow up to be like," said Jason Buatte, assistant principal at Oakville High School. "She is a great kid with a positive, can-do attitude makes the others around her happy. She is top-notch!"
"Harrison is a perfect example of a well-rounded student. He is able to balance his drive to excel in academics with enjoying the overall high school experience," said Andrew Ross, assistant principal at Mehlville High School. "Students, teachers, and administrators at Mehlville could not be prouder of Harrison's achievement and all of the recognition that is surely coming his way."
To become finalists, Hong and Allen will have to submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Semifinalists 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.
Three students received Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Megan Shroff from Mehlville High School, and Meredith Bayer and Caitlin Blanchard from Oakville High School are commended scholars.