National Merit Semifinalists Named

Hansen

Last 5 stories in News

• Coronado takes second at District meet - March 27, 2012
• Vote for Anti-Bullying lanyards and T-Shirts - March 20, 2012
• Area Youth Job Fair - March 6, 2012
• Math UIL takes Second - March 6, 2012
• TAKS testing this week - March 5, 2012

Other stories that might interest you...

• Hansen and Fly Soar
• Important College Dates
• Got Smarts?
• AVID: Changing students lives one by one
• AP Exams – Are Your Ready?

October 9, 2011 • Elizabeth Hansen, Online Editor  
Filed under News

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the Semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.  Coronado Seniors Matt Hansen and Lara Fly were among approximately 16,000 other students nationwide to receive this great honor.

Both had to work rigorously to earn qualifying scores on the PSAT. “Over the summer before my Junior year, I attended the Superintendent Scholars Program and that taught me a lot for the PSAT,” Fly said, “It showed me what I had to work on specifically. Being in Octathalon really helped me boost my scores also.” Now that they had put in the extra time, did they think what they’d done was enough?

“I felt confident going into the test,” Hansen began, “but I really wasn’t sure if I’d gotten it or not by the time the test was over.” The wait was agonizing, but one fateful day in class they were given the results, to see if their dreams of becoming a Semifinalist had become a reality.

Fly enthused, “I was really excited, and a little bit surprised, but mostly just surprised because I knew it would open up a lot of opportunities as far as college goes.” Hansen also agreed that he was very pleased; everyone in his AP English class was congratulating him. He also thinks he might have done a fist pump when he got the news.

Now that he’s become a Semifinalist, Hansen has some thinking to do. “First I have to finish the application in order to become a Finalist,” Hansen stated, “If I get the Finalist standing, I’m going to start looking into what scholarship offers I can get from various colleges.” Hansen plans on majoring in engineering, but isn’t sure as to what college he plans to attend.

Fly has other plans for her future after high school. “I’m considering going to SMU (Southern Methodist University) orSouthwesternUniversity,” Fly assures, “and mostly considering being an English major.”

Now that they’ve gotten the title Semifinalist, the next step is to become Finalists. To do this, Hansen and Fly must submit a completed application with a self-descriptive essay, continue with outstanding grades in their high school classes, be recommended by their high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm PSAT performance.

There are three different types of National Merit Scholarships that will be offered this spring.  Every Finalist will compete for a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.  As well as this, Finalists may qualify for corporate and college sponsored awards.

All of Coronado is teeming with pride for these two students, and wish them luck in achieving the ultimate title of Finalist.

Tags:

 Email This Post        Print This Post