PDS Announces Seven National Merit Semifinalists

Princeton Day School announces seven student semifinalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Competition.

The students are David Caliguire of Skillman, Emily Clagett of Yardley, Penn., Jay is Karandikar of Skillman, Jonas Kaufman of Princeton, Max Nye of Washington Crossing, Penn., Adam Straus-Goldfarb of Princeton and Emily Zhao of Princeton Junction.

This is the first time since 2008-09 that PDS has had seven semifinalists in this competition.

The students are among approximately 16,000 semifinalists chosen from 1.5 million juniors around the country who applied for the program. The semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and include the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

The seven PDS students may now compete for 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance as a finalist in the competition.

Merit Scholars are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in college, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference. The National Merit Scholarship winners of 2013 will be announced between April and July. 

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