Newtown High School seniors Michael Arena and Bryan Ingwersen were named at the school on September 12 as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship program.

The news was a surprise to both seniors. NHS Principal Dr Kimberly Longobucco announced the achievement in the school’s Guidance Department with school staff and administrators applauding the achievement.

“That’s a big honor and a big deal,” said Dr Longobucco.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. It was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program, according to the corporation. High school students are entered into the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Students qualified for the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). For the National Merit Scholarship program, 16,000 semifinalists were named, and each of the chosen semifinalists can continue in the competition. To continue in the competition, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level.

Dr Longobucco told the students that being named as semifinalists required “a lot of hard work,” and she shared her congratulations for their accomplishment.