Kalliopi named National Merit Scholar semi-finalist

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Photo by Brady King

Kalliopi Sommis (’15) strives in her classes to meet the academic requirements of a National Merit Scholar finalist. She was one of 16,000 highest scorers in the nation on the PSAT.

Kalliopi Somis (’15) was the only student from Hereford High to be named a National Merit semi -finalist in early September based on her scores on the the Preliminary SAT (PSAT.)

High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT.) Of the 1.5 million entrants, the 50,000 highest scoring students are recognized as commended students, but only 16,000 students are recognized as Semi- Finalists.

To guarantee that students from all over the United States are included in the talent pool, semi-finalists are designated on a state representational basis. Kalliopi was among the highest scoring entrants in the state of Maryland, leading her to be eligible to be a National Merit Finalist.

Kalliopi must meet the high academic standards and all other requirements to continue to the Finalist Level along with 15,000 other students who are competing to win a National Merit Scholarship from the pool of $33 million. Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, select students will be notified they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship Award, including Kalliopi Somis.

http://www.nationalmerit.org/