SMCHS Juniors Pass First Test Toward Being National Merit Scholars

Becoming a National Merit Scholar, such as Santa Margarita Catholic's Alexandra Kubiak, may occur during a student's senior campaign, but the process begins much earlier.

Over the next year, 18 Santa Margarita Catholic High juniors will be considered for the coveted title of National Merit Scholar and the accompanying scholarship money.

The students are among about 50,000 recognized by the National Merit Scholar program for scoring 202 or higher out of 240 points on their preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last fall. These students are among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants of some 1.5 million who took the test.

Of the 50,000, about 16,000 will be named National Merit Semifinalists, representing the top scorers in each state. Semifinalists will then have the opportunity to continue in the competition for about 8,200 scholarships offered in 2012.

The 18 Santa Margarita juniors recognized by the program are:

• Kathleen Baluyot
• Austin Brewin
• Meghan Brown
• Megan Couch
• Katherine Fernelius
• Deeva Gujral
• Jessica Hickey
• Steven Holcomb
• Nathaniel Hopkins
• Elizabeth Lagatta
• Eric Lencioni
• Conor Mullarky
• Nicholas Prukop
• Hayley Ritterhern
• Danielle Roteliuk
• Preston Spunt
• Timothy Streufert
• Jonathon Sung