25 WVUSD Semifinalists Named in 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program

Congratulations to the following students recognized by the nonprofit organization for demonstrating exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Diamond Bar High School:

Jessica Chang, Christina Chen, Corey Chen, Alexander Cheng, Derek J. Hung, Zhao Zheng Jin, Emilee Kang, Sean E. Kitayama, Tiffany Lam, Byron L. Lee, Changfei Shi, Kimberly Wang, Daniel Z. Yang, Tiffany Zhang, Diana Zhou and Nancy W. Zhou.

Walnut High School:

Victor Chen, Alexander I. Koo, Gavin Lee, Bryan Li, Vivek Shah, Colin Tsui, Ming-Wei Wang, Zachary R. Woo and Daoping Zhang.

About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program last year by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. 

“Congratulations to these exceptional students who are shining examples of Walnut Valley’s finest,” said Board Member Cindy Ruiz. “They exemplify our District’s mission of achieving success through academics, arts, activities and athletics,” she added.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.