Four MMI seniors named finalists in National Merit Scholarship Program

Four MMI Preparatory School seniors advanced from the semifinalist round to become finalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Ali Aijaz, Anirban Chowdhury, Allison McGeehan and Nicholas Young, who received semifinalist recognition last fall, are among just 15,000 students nationwide to be named finalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

As finalists, Ali Aijaz, Anirban Chowdhury, Allison McGeehan and Nicholas Young have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million that will be offered in the spring.

To become a finalist, semifinalists had to submit a detailed scholarship application and provide information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, and demonstrated leadership abilities, along with honors and awards received.

Each year, about 1.6 million juniors take the PSAT, and roughly 50,000 of those students with the highest Selection Index scores (or total PSAT scores) qualify for National Merit Program recognition–roughly the top three percent of 11th grade testers qualify for merit recognition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists attain finalist standing and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

“We’re very proud to have four of our seniors advance as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program and commend these students for their hard work throughout their high school careers,” said MMI College Admissions Counselor Stephanie Shandra Sweitnicki.

Ali Aijaz is the son of Fakhruddin and Dr. Naghma Aijaz, Mountaintop; Anirban Chowdhury is the son of Bhaskar and Saumitri Chowdhury, Hazle Township; Allison McGeehan is the daughter of Thomas and Sandra McGeehan, Drums; and Nicholas Young is the son of Christian and Nicole Young, Freeland.