NEW LENOX, IL — Lincoln-Way board members, administration, counselors and staff joined the parents of nearly 40 Lincoln-Way students on Dec. 15 to recognize their achievement of National Merit Scholar status. Attendees gathered in the Fine Arts Auditorium at Lincoln-Way Central.
Superintendent Scott Tingley welcomed board of education members Dee Molinare, Ron Lullo, Joe Kosteck, and Joe Kirkeeng. Lincoln-Way Central Pupil Personnel Services Director Michele Newswander expressed her excitement to honor the individual students for their exceptional scholastic achievements.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Of the 1.6 million entrants, approximately 50,000 test takers (or just over three percent of students) with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Of that three percent, two thirds earn “Commended” status and one third earn “Semifinalist” status.
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“This is quite an accomplishment,” said Newswander. “To the parents, thank you for giving your children the support needed to develop the confidence to excel academically and prove that they could compete on the national level. Students, we hope that you know how very proud we are of each of you.”
Lincoln-Way East Pupil Personnel Services Director Karen Murphy then announced each student to be recognized as they walked across the stage to receive their award from Superintendent Tingley and Board of Education members.
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Semi-Finalists included:
- Sabrina Corsetti
- Collin Kavanaugh
- Matthew Murphy
- Christian Panici
- Samuel Passarelli
- Michael Piunti
- Nicholas Piunti
- Commended students included:
- Daniel Allen
- Micaela Beck
- Jessica Bettridge
- Julia Bortscheller
- Nathan Briese
- Liana Chidichimo
- Weston Dell
- Sabrina Dobrovits
- Kristin Ferracuti
- Michael Gaertig
- Michael Gentry
- Mary Gorski
- Maria Hernandez (National Hispanic Recognition Program)
- Eric Hypke
- Laura Lewis
- Matthew Klock
- Ryan Murphy
- Joshua Perch
- Anna Piech
- Michael O’Lear
- Nikhil Piska
- Allison Plourde
- Daniel Rymut
- Gehrig Simon
- Taryn Springgate
- Kathan Thomas
- Annelise Trout
- Sydney Whalen
- Campbell Williams
- Daniel Zhao
- Carlos Ferran-Heredia (National Hispanic Recognition Program)
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