On Sept. 12, officials with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced 16,000 semifinalists in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, a group that includes seven current members of the Bolles Class of 2019.
The seven semifinalists from Bolles are: Nithya Badarinath, Madeline Duhnoski, Kamren Khan, Adam Pooley, River Reynolds, Richard Sollee III and Jack Wessell.
The students received honors for high marks on the PSAT — taken during their junior year — and now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $33 million offered this spring. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, thus earning the “merit scholar” title, according to National Merit Scholarship organizers.
“Even one National Merit Semifinalist coming from Bolles is a tremendous distinction and emphasizes the quality of education happening in our classrooms,” Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges said. “But being notified of seven students who qualified is simply outstanding — we are thrilled. This year’s results are another example of the pursuit of excellence at The Bolles School.”
Upper School Head Moya Marks said the results continue the school’s long track record of producing National Merit Semifinalists.
“Academic success at Bolles comes in many forms, and these students certainly demonstrate how the Bolles experience can influence testing achievement,” Marks said. “Being named a National Merit Semifinalist is a distinguished honor and we congratulate our students on their hard work.”
