DOVER – Seventeen students from Strawberry Crest High School have been named semifinals for National Merit Scholarships, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The total is the highest among high schools in the Hillsborough County Public Schools and ties
Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa.
Students achieving the honor were Komal R. Brahmankar, Christopher A. Dawson, Joseph Deepesh, Madison Fang, Neha N. Gowda, Nitya Hargewar, Hannah G. Kim, Aayush Mehta, Eshaan Roy, Saisriharshe Sadineni, Harrison J. Shirey, Nitya L. Srikant, Alex Sun, Rhea Varma, Harshin S. Vemula, Ashrith Yeddula and Nathan C. Young.
Semifinalists represent some of the highest-achieving students in the nation. Earning semifinalist status requires exceptional performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, consistently strong academic record, leadership involvement and endorsement by the student’s school.
“This extraordinary accomplishment reflects the dedication, perseverance and academic excellence of our students, as well as the unwavering support provided by our teachers, counselors, families and community,” said Mark Watson, principal of Strawberry Crest High.
He described the high number of semifinalists as “a testament to the culture of excellence that exists at Strawberry Crest.”
Strawberry Crest offers traditional high school experiences as well as a comprehensive International Baccalaureate program focused on academic achievement, leadership development, career readiness and community engagement.
The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes academically talented students across the United States and provides opportunities for scholarship awards sponsored by colleges, universities, corporations and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
These students will now compete for National Merit Scholarships that will be announced later this spring.
“This achievement reflects not only the talents of these exceptional students but also the collaborative efforts of our educators and families who support their academic journey every day,” Watson said. “We celebrate their success and the example they set for future Chargers.”
