Three Sartell Seniors Receive Designations in the National Merit Scholarship Program

(KNSI) — Three Sartell High School seniors have received designations in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.

A press release from the district says semifinalist Taylor Chaika joins less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors as the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state corresponds to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. Riley Hengel and Zachary Hohenstern are two of approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the U.S. who are recognized for their exceptional academic promise.

To qualify, high school juniors entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screening of program entrants. To become one of the finalists, a semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application that provides information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, track record of leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

From over 16,000 semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level, and in February, they will be notified of this designation. About 7,600 will go on to become National Merit Scholars.

“On behalf of the entire Sartell High School community, I want to share how proud we are of Taylor, Riley, and Zachary. It is a wonderful accomplishment for three students in our senior class to receive National Merit designations,” Sartell High School Principal Shayne Kusler shared.

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