12 Gatton Academy Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

More than 20% of Gatton Academy seniors have been recognized as Semifinalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor which potentially opens the door college scholarship opportunities.  In all, 12 members of the Class of 2010 will go on to the next round of the competition.

Over 1.5 million students in about 22,000 high schools entered the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.  Students are testing in math, critical reasoning, and writing.  The 16,000 Semifinalists honored are the highest-scoring entrants in their state and represent less than 1 percent of each state’s high school seniors.

For these Gatton Academy seniors, it’s a great way to begin their final year of high school even as they focus on the college admissions process ahead.  According to Gatton Academy Director Tim Gott, this is just the beginning of a busy—and rewarding—year.

“With this recognition, these students have earned a key that will open tremendous educational opportunities,” Gott said. “We look forward to seeing what these students will accomplish in the days ahead.”

To be considered in the rigorous competition for National Merit Scholarships, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by meeting additional standard and fulfilling several requirements.  These include having a record of very high academic performance of college preparatory course work, submitting SAT scores that confirm PSAT performance, and being fully endorsed and recommended by a high school official.

For Gott, that recommendation will be easy to give.

“It is an incredible honor to be named a National Merit Semifinalist,” Gott said. “These remarkable young people have been strongly prepared by their home high schools and the Gatton Academy is privileged to be able to contribute to the ongoing education of these outstanding students.”

2010 Gatton Academy National Merit Semifinalists:

Sam Brown  (Greenwood High School, Warren County)
Thomas Choate  (Warren Central High School, Warren County)
Amy Cordero  (Pikeville High School, Pike County)
Nash Dingman  (Heath High School, McCracken County)
Cody Feldhaus  (Conner High School, Boone County)
Jacob Haven  (Bourbon County High School, Bourbon County)
Ballard Metcalfe  (Eminence High School, Henry County)
Alex Naumann  (Boyd County High School, Boyd County)
Rohith Palli  (Paul L. Dunbar High School, Fayette County)
Sarah Pritchett  (George Rogers Clark High School, Clark County)
Katherine Rush  (Franklin County High School, Franklin County)
Ryne Weiss  (Madison Central High School, Madison County)

Finalists will be named in Winter 2010.

For more information, contact Corey Alderdice at (270) 745-2971.

alex naumann, Amy Cordero, ballard metcalfe, Class of 2010, coldy feldhaus, jacob haven, katherine rush, nash dingman, national merit, Rohith Palli, Ryne Weiss, sam brown, sarah pritchett, semifinalist, thomas choate