Scheck Hillel Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

Two Scheck Hillel Seniors - Eduardo Halfen and Zachary Lemmer - have advanced as Semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit® Scholarship Program. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state, based on the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. Finalists will be announced in February 2022.

“Congratulations, Edu and Zach! You, your families and teachers have so much to celebrate with this accomplishment,” said Craig Carpentieri, Scheck Hillel’s Interim Head of School. “Academic achievement like National Merit Scholarship Program recognition speaks to exceptional dedication, talent and commitment.”

Eduardo and Zachary also were recently recognized by the College Board as 2020 AP Scholars 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. 

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.