Watertown High School can boast five students who received honors from the National Merit Scholarship program this year.
The program honors students who have excelled on the PSAT exam, taken by students in their sophomore year. The top
For the 2015 National Merit Scholarships, approximately 1.4 million students from 22,000 high schools took the PSAT. The top 50,000 students are recognized for their accomplishment. The top 16,000 are selected as National Merit Semifinalists. Those students have the chance to become National Merit Finalists and compete for scholarships.
WHS Principal Shirley Lundberg said Watertown High School had one semifinalist – Charlotte Vitti.
“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,” said the release from the National Merit Scholarship Program.
About 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million that will be offered next spring, according to the announcement.
Others who are in the top 50,000 are named Commended Students. This year, Lundberg said, the high school has three Commended Stundents: Ghislane Coulter-de Wit, Molly Day and Kayla Furbish.
The National Merit Scholarship program also honors participants who scored best among African-American students. The top 4,700 of more than 160,000 students are named Outstanding Participants.
Watertown High School’s Clarissa Phillips was named a Outstanding Participant, Lundberg said.