TOWSON, MD—Eleven students from Baltimore County Public Schools have been named semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, the school system announced Wednesday.
These students are among the highest-scoring entrants nationwide on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). More than 1.3 million high school juniors took the exam to enter the program.
The recognized students represent seven different high schools across the county:
- Catonsville High School: Oliver L. Graves Abe
- Dulaney High School: Nicole Y. Jia, Victor Lin, and Luke Tao
- George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology: Dessa L. Haavik, Leah W. Hoddie, and Khushi B. Patel
- Hereford High School: Ava E. Beck
- Perry Hall High School: Sarah D. Davis
- Pikesville High School: Joseph R. Stanger
- Towson High School: Sam J. Wheeler
“Congratulations to these students for their outstanding academic achievement and to the teachers, families, and administrators who taught and supported them,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers. “These National Merit semifinalists represent that potential, and the recognition they have earned inspires all members of Team BCPS to set and reach higher goals.”
Most of the semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level, where they will compete for 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million. Finalist selection is based on academic records, recommendations, and SAT or ACT scores.
