Two Model Laboratory School seniors have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Rishav Aikat was named a semifinalist and Andrew Brockman a commended student.
Aikat and Brockman, along with more than 1.5 million other students, took the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program, a nationwide competition for recognition and awards conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The two were among the 50,000 highest scorers on the test.
Aikat is one of 16,000 semifinalists with an opportunity to continue in the Merit Scholarship competition.
Brockman is among 34,000 other high performers named as commended students.
“It means a great deal,” Aikat said of being named a semifinalist. “Becoming a National Merit Scholar semifinalist exemplifies how I want to represent myself and Model in regard to academic excellence and integrity.”
Aikat and Brockman credit Model’s faculty for contributing to their success by preparing them for the PSAT. Aikat especially recognized Jamie Worley, Model High guidance counselor, for helping him with the Merit Scholarship application process.
Aikat hasn’t selected a university yet, but he plans to follow a pre-medicine track and become a physician. Brockman also hopes to either follow a pre-medicine track or go into veterinary studies.