Semifinalists Named in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program

Half Hollow Hills High School East senior Karishma M Sabhnani and HHH HS West seniors Daniel Cho, Danielle J. Chuang, Gabrielle M. Costa, Dianna Hu, Erica Huang and Kimberly B. Karter were seven of 6,000 semifinalists named Wednesday in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program, according to the program's list of finalists obtained by Patch.

The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors. Semifinalists are chosen based on their PSAT scores, a test taken during their junior year.

"We are extremely proud of the achievements of these outstanding students.  Their success is a tribute to our commitment to excellence in every aspect of the education they receive in Half Hollow Hills--a Triple 'A' School District focusing on Academics, Athletics and the Arts.  We congratulate each and every one of them and wish them continued success," said Dr. Sheldon Karnilow, Superintendent of Schools.

Suffolk County had over 30 semifinalists out of the one million students that took the exam in 2009. Semifinalists will go on to compete for 8,400 National Merit Scholarships, collectively worth $36 million.

To become finalists, semifinalists must have outstanding academic records throughout high school, be endorsed by the high school principal and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test, in addition to submitting an essay and information on leadership in school and community activities.

National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in April. The program began in 1955 to honor the nation's scholastic champions and to encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.