30 Students from the Class of 2022 Representing 11 Archdiocesan High Schools Earn National Merit Recognized Student Distinction

Thirty students from the class of 2022 representing 11 Archdiocesan highs schools throughout the five-county region recently learned that they are National Merit^® Recognized Students. This recognition is part of the National Merit^® Scholarship Corporation’s (NMSC), National Merit^® Scholarship Program.

The NMSC’s mission is to recognize and honor academically talented students throughout the United States. NMSC accomplishes its mission by conducting nationwide academic scholarship programs.

The National Merit^® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year. This distinction means that of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores (calculated by doubling the sum of the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Test scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either Commended Students or Semifinalists.

Those individuals with asterisks after their names are in the Connelly Foundation Neumann Scholars Program. Initiated in 1995, this scholarship program identifies academically talented eighth grade students through an independently administered competitive examination and provides four year scholarships to attend any Archdiocesan high school.

Archbishop Ryan High School

Joseph Tangradi*

Archbishop Wood High School

Braeden Choo
Katherine Finnegan*
Cesar Guerra-Solano
Patrick Kreuzburg
Gary Martin*
Alexander Sheak*

Bishop Shanahan High School

Leah M. Baker*
John C. Boncek
Grace A. DellaPorta
Bridget M. Gaunter*
Mary Grant
Emma H. McHugh
Gabriel A. Nichols*
Jessica R. Ward
Grace E. Watson*

Cardinal O’Hara High School

Haley E. Garecht
Dorothy L. Tomko*

Conwell-Egan Catholic High School

John L. Moyer

Lansdale Catholic High School

Aidan G. Halverson*
Caroline J. Kerr*
Alex J. Kulp*
Elijah Wagner