Feature Stories

37 Minnetonka Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

A record-setting 37 Minnetonka High School seniors have been named 2023 National Merit Semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The students scored among the nation's best on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) taken their junior year.

“We’re incredibly proud of each of our students for their work to achieve this honor,” said Superintendent of Schools David Law. “To have 37 semifinalists in one year is simply outstanding. It speaks to our students’ dedication to their studies, to the support of our teachers and to the depth of the academic preparation offered throughout the students’ K-12 experience in our schools.”

"The National Merit Semifinalist distinction is prestigious. It recognizes an untold amount of hard work that students have put in over the course of their high school careers and honors their focus to excel academically," said Minnetonka High School Principal Jeff Erickson. “Congratulations to each student on this incredible accomplishment!”

Congratulations to the following students in the Class of 2023:

  • WILLIAM ANDERSON
  • NICHOLAS BREITLING
  • ETHAN CHEN
  • AIDAN CHONG
  • AILEEN DOSEV
  • MIA ELVECROG
  • CHARLOTTE ERICKSON
  • LAUREN FLIGGE
  • NICHOLAS GAMMILL
  • PARKER HITCHCOCK
  • JOHN HULTGREN
  • ALEEN JUDE
  • ELISE KEENAN
  • CHARLES KENSICKI
  • ANIKA LANG
  • MEILING MATHUR
  • CHLOE MCLAREN
  • CALAIS MICHAELSSON
  • MERLIN MORTON
  • ANNA NODSLE
  • SABRINA O'BRIEN
  • PEYTON OLSON
  • MAXWELL PERDU
  • ELISE PUDWILL
  • JENNY QUAN
  • KRISH INBA RAJASHANKAR
  • ISABELA SNOW
  • SALONI SOMIA
  • ISABELLE STROH
  • VARUN VISWANATHAN
  • JULIA VLADIMIROV
  • APRIL WANG
  • LUKE WILLIAMS
  • CYNTHIA ZENG
  • JERRY ZHANG
  • ANNIE ZHAO
  • MARIE ZISSIS

 

All semi-finalists will have an opportunity to continue the competition for approximately 7,500 National Merit Scholarships to be offered next spring. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship award, semi-finalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.

 

About the National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)—which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year—and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

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