Scheck Hillel Seniors Named National Merit Finalists

Mazal tov to Scheck Hillel ‘22 Seniors Eduardo Halfen and Zachary Lemmer! They have advanced as Finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program competition as part of a nationwide group that represents less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. These students carry on Scheck Hillel traditions of academic excellence, core values and National Merit Program recognition.

All National Merit Scholarship recipients will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and success in rigorous college studies. National Merit Scholarship winners of 2022 will be announced beginning in March and concluding in July. 

 

Eduardo was recognized by the College Board as a 2021 AP Scholar with Distinction by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, as well as scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Eduardo is Editor-in-Chief of The Roar Post, Hillel’s student digital newspaper, and plays on the varsity volleyball team. He belongs to the National Honor Society and the National Math Honor Society. Eduardo also received a Brown University College Book Award and is a National Hispanic Scholar. 

Zachary was recognized by the College Board as a 2021 AP Scholar with Distinction by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, as well as scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Zachary is a 2022 Silver Knight Nominee in Mathematics, a National Hispanic Scholar, and recipient of the Harvard University College Book Award. He belongs to the National Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society and the National Math Honor Society. He plays the flute in the High School Band, and has received the Quincy Jones Musicianship Award and the Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award. 

Scheck Hillel is honored to have graduated a significant roster of students recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Most recently, the Class of 2021’s Valedictorian Anna Freiman and Class Co-President Ilana Stiberman were named National Merit Finalists, and Tanya Almog and Salutatorian Leonardo Bentata were named National Merit Commended Students. Next fall, Anna will attend Yeshiva University’s Honors Program. She is currently studying in Israel’s Tomer Devorah Seminary. Ilana attends the University of Michigan. Tanya is in Maccabi Shnat Hachshara’s gap year program in Israel and then will attend the University of Florida; Leonardo attends Northwestern University's Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2022. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 230 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria. In addition, about 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.