Three seniors in the Valley Stream Central High School District were recognized in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Competition this year. Central High School student Saajed Yaseen has been named a 2024 National Merit Semifinalist, and South High School students Emily Nothdurft and Ethan Fazal were named Commended Students.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation seeks to identify academically talented students throughout the United States. Of the roughly 1.3 million students who applied for the program this year, only about 16,000 were selected to become semifinalists, as Saajed was, and only 34,000 were named Commended Students, as Emily and Ethan were. Furthermore, Saajed is now in the running for one of the roughly 7,500 National Merit Scholarships awarded annually. The scholarships are worth a total of more than $31 million.
Students are selected for recognition in this contest based on their outstanding academic records and participation in school activities, as well as their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Central principal Candace Hugee, from left, with National Merit Semifinalist Saajed Yaseen, School Counselor Amy La Personerie and Assistant Principal Robert Milani.
South High School Assistant Principal Jacqueline Allen, from left Emily Nothdurft, Ethan Fazal and Principal Matthew Swinson.