Huntington Qualifies Two in National Achievement Program
Huntington High School juniors Alexander Chisolm and Samuel Sainthil are among the 4,700 highest scoring participants in the National Achievement Program sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.
A total of 150,000 students participated in the program. In coming months, 3,100 “outstanding participants” will be referred to 1,500 colleges “for their potential for academic success.” Eventually, 1,600 students will be designated semi-finalists and 1,300 will be tapped as finalists in January 2010. Then in late February, 800 students will be notified that are assured a National Achievement Program scholarship.
A total of 700 scholarships worth $2,500 each will be awarded by the National Merit Corp. and another 100 corporate scholarships will be presented as part of the annual program.
“Corporate sponsors support awards for finalists who plan to pursue particular college majors or careers, are children of their employees, or are residents of an area served by the sponsor” according to the National Merit website. “These scholarships may either be renewable for four years of undergraduate study or one-time awards.”
Mr. Chisolm and Mr. Sainthil are among the top students in Huntington’s Class of 2010. “They are hard working and a credit to the school,” Principal Carmela Leonardi said. The easy-going pair of scholars have long been standouts in district classrooms.
According to the National Merit website, “The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students. Black students may enter both the National Achievement Program and the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and meeting other published requirements for participation. The two annual programs are conducted concurrently but operated and funded separately. A student's standing is determined independently in each program. Black American students can qualify for recognition and be honored as Scholars in both the National Merit Program and the National Achievement Program, but can receive only one monetary award from NMSC.”
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