September 19, 2008
Minnetonka, Minnesota
Minnetonka High School announces 15 National Merit Semifinalists, 24 National Merit Commended Students
The National Merit® Scholarship Program has named 15 Minnetonka High School students National Merit Semifinalists for 2008. This is the highest number in school history. These seniors were among the top in the nation on the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). In addition, Minnetonka has 24 National Merit Commended Students.
Of the 1.5 million entrants across the country, approximately 50,000 students with the highest PSAT scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only 16,000, approximately one-third, of these students are named Semifinalists. About 34,000, or two-thirds, are named National Merit Commended Students.
Congratulations to Minnetonka’s 2008 National Merit Semifinalists:
• Jack Allen (son of Matthew and Susan Allen)
• Megan Crowell (daughter of Robert and Heidi Crowell)
• Michelle Deng (daughter of Charles and Susan Deng)
• Nathan Friendly (son of Ian and Carol Friendly)
• Max Henke (son of Tom and Nancy Henke)
• David Juel (son of Le Ann and Perry Juel)
• Megan Kelly (daughter of Terrence and Sheri Kelly)
• Stephen Kindt (son of Ronda Hocevar)
• Thomas Martino (son of Richard and Nancy Martino)
• Rita McGlynn (daughter of Timothy and Teresa McGlynn)
• Erin O’Brien (daughter of Gene and Susan O’Brien)
• Nicholas Pricco (son of Christopher and Brenda Pricco)
• Jenny Simso (daughter of Rebecca and Eric Simso)
• Kimberly Sipple (daughter of William and Susan Sipple)
• Klara Zelikman (daughter of Gregory and Helen Zelikman)
To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing by meeting requirements provided by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
One of the National Merit Semifinalists, Michelle Deng, was also recently notified of her Advanced Placement scores for exams taken after her junior year. Deng took eight AP exams and earned scores of 5.0 on all of them. These scores make her the first Minnetonka student in school history to be named a National AP Scholar after her junior year.
The following are Minnetonka’s National Merit Commended Students:
• Ryan Anderson (son of Gregory and Lori Anderson)
• Maria Bowe (daughter of Patrick and Mary Louise Bowe)
• Tracy Deal (daughter of Donald and Cynthia Deal)
• Sydney Eischens (daughter of Curtis and Jody Eischens)
• Meghan Feldmeier (daughter of Cynthia Feldmeier and Steven Schmirler)
• Jennifer Friedlander (daughter of James and Robin Friedlander)
• Michael George-Hallgren (son of Jeffry Hallgren and Michelle George)
• Christopher Grathwol (son of Laura Grathwol)
• Nicholas Hamberg (son of Keith Hamberg and Meredith Dommer)
• Nicholas Helmer (son of Gregory and Tami Helmer)
• Greyson Hensley (son of Robert and Lindy Hensley)
• Joseph Knudsvig (son of Brian and Julie Knudsvig)
• Veronica Lang (daughter of Richard Lang and Susan Valo)
• Nicholas Libbey (son Susan and Mark Libbey)
• Anne Manning (daughter of Steven and Deborah Manning)
• Jonathan Mitchell (son of Andrew and Joan Staub Mitchell)
• Nathan Newberg (son of Michael and Susan Newberg)
• Amy Osteraas (daughter of William and Lisa Osteraas)
• Sophie Pietrick (daughter of Donald and Lynn Pietrick)
• Anne Ruelle (daughter of Steve and Linda Ruelle)
• Alexandra Smith (daughter of Eric and Christine Smith)
• Alexander Sullivan (son of Steven and Cheryl Sullivan)
• Benjamin Williams (son of Donald and Julie Williams)
• Brady Williams (son of Mark and Tracy Williams)
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and Commended Students will be recognized by the Minnetonka School Board at the Oct. 2 meeting. At that time, each student will also recognize two or three teachers that they feel had a significant impact on their education in Minnetonka Public Schools.
