Episcopal’s National Merit semifinalists and commended scholars and National Achievement semifinalist.

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Fifteen members of Episcopal’s Class of 2005 have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation or National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Seven seniors were tapped as semifinalists in the annual National Merit competition based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. They are: Jacob Graves, son of Joey and Bonnie Graves, Ashley Mick, daughter of Frieda Mick and Ben Bradshaw and the late Gary Mick, Sara Paccamonti, daughter of Dale and Jane Paccamonti, Andre Prudhomme, son of Patrick and Mary Beth Prudhomme, Jeffrey Rutland, son of Pepper and Connie Rutland, Evan Scott, son of Mark Scott and Dr. Patricia Aptaker, and Bret Wilson, son of Kirk and Monica Wilson. Kristen Williams, the daughter of Clyde and Dr. Jacqueline Williams, was recognized as a National Achievement Semifinalist. Additionally, Julie Patten, daughter of Judd and Ikuko Patten, who now attends Brigham Young University, was named a National Merit Semifinalist.

The following seven students were recognized as Commended Scholars for their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT: Vanessa Begat, daughter of Didier and Susan Begat, Jessica Ferreyra, daughter of Dr. Guillermo Ferreyra and Sara Cattaneo, Christopher Hobbs, son of Reed Hobbs and Margory Kuenster, Sean Moles, son of Michael and Aimee Moles, Brett Paddock, son of Larry and Ginger Paddock, Alex Whelan, son of Carol and James Whelan, and Michael White, son of David and Emy White.

The National Merit Semifinalists join approximately 15,500 academically talented high school seniors in qualifying for this honor. As semifinalists, the students will have the opportunity to compete for about 7,600 merit scholarships worth approximately $28 million. Before they can be considered for merit scholarship awards, semifinalists must advance to the finalist level of competition by fulfilling additional requirements, which include having an outstanding academic record and submitting SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier PSAT/NMSQT performance. National Achievement Semifinalists have the opportunity to compete for 800 scholarships worth about $3 million. The Achievement Program is a privately financed academic competition initiated in 1964 to honor outstanding students who are Black Americans and to increase their educational opportunities.