Photo courtesy of Kristen Pedersen
Pictured: West High Students (Row 1) Gracie Rechkemmer, Leah Brownsberger, Wingel Xue, Catherine Ju, Jeongwoo Seo, Rui Jin, Eman Elsheikh, Mason Wang; (Row 2) Kevin Liu, Joshua Burbidge, Evan Geng, Robert Walling, Daniel Burgess, Colleen Bloeser, Jingyi Du, Ethan Trepka; (Row 3) Jack Wolf, Lien Zhu, Alex Granner, Patrick Shirazi, Shawn Thacker Nathan Stone, Junhee Lee, Adam Conrad; (Not pictured) Nicole Alden
Among the highest scoring entrants in Iowa, 25 West High seniors and 7 City High seniors have the ability to become National Merit Scholarship Finalists as of Sept. 13.
West semifinalists include:
Nicole Alden
Colleen Bloeser
Leah Brownsberger
Joshua Burbidge
Daniel Burgess
Adam Conrad
Jingyi Du
Eman Elsheikh
Evan Geng
Alex Granner
Rui Jin
Catherine Ju
Junhee Lee
Kevin Liu
Gracie Rechkemmer
Jeongwoo Seo
Patrick Shirazi
Nathan Stone
Shawn Thacker
Ethan Trepka
Robert Walling
Mason Wang
Jack Wolf
Wingel Xue
Lien Zhu
City High semifinalists include:
Eden Knoop
Mary Liebig
Quenton Max
Gabriel McCormick
Maxwell Meyer
Jakob Roggy
Evelyn Smith
Semifinalists must have a high academic record, be commended by the principal and merit SAT scores that reflect their top-grade PSAT/NMSQT scores in the preliminary screening of program entrants. An essay regarding a semifinalist’s leadership roles in the school and community is also necessary.
Winners will be granted the National Merit title and be given $32 million worth of Merit Scholarship awards between April and July.