Students’ high PSAT scores earn honors

Three North High School seniors were named National Merit Commended Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Program for achieving “exceptional scores” on the Preliminary SAT.

Joseph D’Elia, Michael Schwartz and Matthew Wang earned the designation, and were described as “outstanding scholars who participate in a broad range of activities,” according to the Valley Stream Central High School District.

D’Elia is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and student council. He plays baritone horn in the jazz band and competes on the varsity cross-country and track teams.

Schwartz is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, as well as the varsity football and track teams. Outside of school, he runs a landscape design company that specializes in ski park terrain features, a venture of his own making.

Wang is a National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society and Italian Honor Society member. He belongs to the Tri-M Music Honor Society and plays euphonium in the jazz band. He performed in the All-State festival of the NYSSMA Winter Conference last year and has participated in the community band. He also tutors younger peers.

Approximately 1.5 million students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program each year when they take the PSAT. Of those, about 34,000 students across the country received letters of commendation in recognition of their scores.