The Bellmore-Merrick Central District Board of Education recently honored six students because they have achieved National Merit Semifinalist status.
To earn the status, the students had to score among the top 1 percent of high schoolers who took the 1999 Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. As Semifinalists, the students now may apply for Finalist status, which would make them eligible for a variety of academic scholarships.
To become Finalists, Semifinalists must "present an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by their high schools, confirm qualifying test performance on a second test and write an essay describing their activities, interests and goals."
In introducing Bellmore-Merrick's Merit Semifinalists, Dr. Thomas Caramore, the district superintendent, said, "In eight of the last 10 years, Bellmore-Merrick has had six or more students honored as Merit Semifinalists. This year's six Semifinalists are all outstanding students in more ways than one.
"Four of them," Dr. Caramore said, "are Advanced Placement Scholars. All but one hold memberships in multiple honor societies. Two are science or math researchers. Three are musicians, and one is an artist. Three have involved themselves extensively in community service. Each of them has a special talent or interest that makes them unique."
