Elk Grove students earn recognition in National Merit Scholarship Program | People

ELK GROVE - Several Elk Grove Unified School District students were recognized for their outstanding test scores on the PSAT through the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The National Merit Scholarship Program, started in 1955, honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.  High school students can enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

Selected from semifinalists, a total of 15,000 students achieve finalist standing.  Students named as finalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program are as follows:

• Alyssa Benjamin – Franklin High School
• Nicolle Doering – Franklin High School
• Daniyal Iqbal – Franklin High School
• Tuong Le – Franklin High School
• Catherine Lei – Franklin High School
• Kaitlyn Lewis – Franklin High School
• Crystal Li – Franklin High School

A total of 16,000 students achieve semifinalist standing with the National Merit Scholarship Program.  Students named as semifinalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program are as follows:

• Nicolas Bravo – Monterey Trail High School

From 50,000 top scorers on the PSAT, 34,000 students are selected as commended finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.  Commended finalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program are as follows:

• Alexander Yuen – Elk Grove High School
• Sarah Ahmadzai – Laguna Creek High School
• Rachel Gates – Laguna Creek High School
• Hannah Muldavin – Laguna Creek High School
• Emma Schultz – Laguna Creek High School
• Brent Tam – Laguna Creek High School
• Vincent Becarra – Pleasant Grove High School
• Jared Becker – Pleasant Grove High School
• Jeffrey Friedrich – Pleasant Grove High School
• Christine Quan – Pleasant Grove High School
• Andrew Schultz – Pleasant Grove High School
• Kyle Waldorf – Pleasant Grove High School
• Thomas Weber – Pleasant Grove High School

The National Achievement Scholarship Program was established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students.  A group of 3,100 Outstanding Participants are referred to colleges after graduation.  Students selected for the National Achievement Scholarship Program are as follows:

• Veronica Banford – Sheldon High School
• Monique Smith – Sheldon High School

For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program, click here.