Westfield High School seniors Benjamin Carroll and Jaclyn Schillinger have been named National Merit Finalists in the 58th National Merit Scholarship Program.Carroll, the son of Darren and Rene Carroll, plans to major in astrophysics and is undecided where he will attend college. Schillinger, the daughter of Jeffrey and Teresa Schillinger, is also undecided on where she will attend college, but plans to double major in engineering and studio art.
Their selection as finalists enables them to compete for 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million and earn the nationally recognized and coveted Merit Scholar title. They are two of approximately 15,000 students nationwide to be named Finalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
The National Merit Scholarship Program honors students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Approximately 1.5 million high school seniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as juniors.