Dantuluri, Ma and Yin National Merit Scholarship Finalists

Abhinav Dantuluri, Michael S. Ma and Wesley Yiin, all of Warren and members of Watchung Hills Regional High School’s Class of 2012, have just been named 2012 Merit Finalists. The students had attained scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test high enough to earn them Semifinalist standing last fall, and have now moved forward in the annual National Merit Scholarship Competition.

As finalists, they will be considered for National Merit Scholarships to be offered in 2012.

Of the approximately 1.5 million college-bound students who took the National   Merit Scholarship Corporation’s  (NMSC) preliminary exam, only 15,000 were named Semifinalists, students in the top half of the top one percent of the nation’s high school graduating class.  By achieving high scores on the follow-up exam (The Scholastic Aptitude Test), and by maintaining an excellent grade point average in their course work, and winning, as well, their school administration’s endorsement, they were named Finalists. As such, they will among some 8,400 similarly-named students nationwide who are being considered for a share of this year’s $36 million in scholarship grants offered by colleges, foundations, industries and by the not-for-profit NMSC itself.

Notification about scholarship offers will begin in March, at which time many of the Finalists will have already learned where they will attend college.

Principal Tom DiGanci expressed the community’s congratulations and pride in  their achievement.