NEW CASTLE —
To be named a National Merit Semifinalist is one of the highest honors a high school senior can achieve.
The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors.
Neshannock High School, though, has two such distinctions. Jeremy Trott and Sei Diazeh Cole have been named as 2012 semifinalists from the National Merit Scholarship Corp.
What’s special, too, according to guidance counselor Brenda DeVincentis, is that Neshannock is the only school in Lawrence County to reach this student achievement.
Trott will be vying for one of about 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $434 million that will be offered next spring. More than 16,000 names were announced in that division.
Cole is being honored by the National Achievement Scholarship Program, which recognizes academically promising black students across the nation. He is one of more than 1,600 African American high school seniors who were designated as semifinalists. He has the opportunity to win one of about 800 achievement scholarship awards worth more than $2.4 million.
Both students received praises from school staff.
Principal Luca Passerelli said, “Jeremy has an innate intelligence that is respected by all. He will continue to flourish after leaving the halls of Neshannock High School.”
Cole’s servant leadership qualities distinguished him among the students, Passerelli pointed out.
“One ability that is possibly lesser known is his performance at the piano. It is a real treat to listen to him accompany our choirs.”
According to Kim Heim, music teacher, Cole’s accomplishments include his selection as second chair alto saxophone for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 5 Honors Band, and PMEA District Band Festival and Lawrence County All Star Band.
“It is always a pleasure and an honor to be able to work with such talented young students in the Neshannock School District.” DeVincentis explained. “Jeremy and Diazeh have rare raw talents in many areas, but the National Merit Semifinalist status acknowledges their superior academic talent.”
Close to 90 percent of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. To become a finalist, students must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
Trott and Cole also were required to submit a detailed scholarship application, which included an essay and information about their participation and leadership in school and community activities.
Right now, it’s a waiting game until this month or next, when finalists are named.
(Email: lhudson@ncnewsonline.com)
Neshannock
Related Photos
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Jeremy Trott is one of two Neshannock High seniors who have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors.
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Sei Diazeh Cole is one of two Neshannock High seniors who have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors.
Discussion
National Attention: Neshannock pair earn high honors
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