The highest number of students in recent Redondo Union history qualified for the National Merit Scholarship Program this year. Seventeen juniors were eligible for the honor because of their National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) results and program requirements, placing them among the 50,000 highest-scoring students from a pool of around 1.5 million entrants.
“RBUSD [Redondo Beach Unified School District] is extremely proud to honor these seventeen students and their accomplishments,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Keller in a release. “We wish them well as they continue the process for scholarship awards in 2014.”
A total of 16,000 of the highest qualifiers will go on to be named semifinalists for the 2014 Merit Program. The students will learn about their placing in September. According to a RBUSD release, only 8,300 scholarships will be offered to the semifinalists.
“I am overjoyed with this announcement and feel deep personal pride working with such amazing students and staff each and every day. It’s a great day to be a Sea Hawk!” said Principal Dr. Nicole Wesley.
To be eligible, students submit a detailed application that includes their academic record, leadership abilities, community activities and honors and awards received. They also must be endorsed by a high school official, write an essay and earn high SAT scores. According to Assistant Superintendent Annette Alpern, for the first time ever, all 11th grade students attending RUHS took the PSAT in the fall of 2012.
RUHS National Merit Scholars include: Sarah Antilla, Eriq Deng, Sierra Foshe, Vera Gold, Petra Grutzik, Siena Hsu, Cedric Hyon, Angela Kim, Garrett Lash, Sharon Lee, Malcom Lomenzo-Torres, Sanjay Mahboobani, Fuad Malki, Matthew Mardesich, Paul Menker, William Moses and Luke Murphy.
