Local students named National Metit semifinalists

By Frances Vanderploeg

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 | midnight

Lake Mead Christian Academy has something to celebrate: For the first time in the school's nearly-20-year existence, it has produced its first National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalist, senior Hannah Prochaska.

The 16,000 national semifinalists represent the top 1 percent of scorers on the Preliminary SAT, which students take in their junior year.

Out of the 84 Nevada semifinalists, eight attend Henderson schools, including Prochaska. The others are:

• Naomi Okada of Community College High School — South.
• Arianne Glick, Alexis Harvey, Eric Kleinberg and Angiela Sivakumar of Coronado High School.
• Joel Simmons of Foothill High School.
• Leah Yaffe of Green Valley High School.

Making it to the finals requires semifinalists to submit an essay talking about their personal characteristics and accomplishments, an application and recommendation from the school's principal.

National Merit finalists are eligible for scholarships of $2,500.

Coronado is up to four semifinalists from two last year. Bob Smyth, counselor at Coronado, said it's expected the number of students who qualify will ebb and flow.

There were seven students who did extremely well on the PSAT exams, he said, but three didn't make the cut when the dividing line was drawn.

"It's probably one of the biggest honors a high school student can get," he said. "It's part natural gift, but a lot of it is outstanding education."

Smyth said he credits Coronado's feeder schools — Bob Miller and Del Webb middle schools — for preparing the students early on with advanced classes.

"Their curriculum has pushed the kids farther," he said.

Green Valley High senior Leah Yaffe, a senior, said that kind of preparation sets a mentality — students are expected to challenge themselves with tests like the PSAT.

"Especially since I'm in IB (international baccalaureate) and AP (advanced placement) classes, that's just part of the mentality," Yaffe said.

Most high schools advertise the exam to qualify for the scholarships. Previous semifinalists said opportunities are abundant even as a semifinalist. There is also the possibility of receiving a partial or full-ride scholarship from their college of choice, which a couple of Henderson finalists received last year.

Students learn late winter whether they've advanced to the finalist level.

Frances Vanderploeg can be reached at 990-2660 or [email protected].