20 Santa Monica High Students Recognized By National Merit

SANTA MONICA, CA — Twenty Santa Monica High School students were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship program, meaning they received high scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).

Four Santa Monica students were recognized as Semifinalists, including: Kian Naini, Maya Knauf, Lincoln Jarvis and Danny Chmaytelli.

18 Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District students were also named Commended students, meaning they tested just below the level of Semifinalists.

The commended Santa Monica High students were: Ryan Atienza, Jillian Brander, Alexa Duffy, Taj Ford, Natalia Galperin, Rosemary Haygood, Riya Khatod, Isaac Kim, Claire Kovac, Aiden Lee, Elleanor Quist, Theodore Rotgin, Julien Schweighofer, Theodore Tobel, Raeva Vasisht and Mira Wali.

Around 16,000 students nationwide were named semifinalists in early September. These students represent the highest PSAT scores in their respective states, and the Semifinalist status qualifies students for a chance at a number of scholarships. Some 15,000 semifinalists will be named Finalists to compete for 7,250 scholarships worth nearly $28 million.

One Malibu High School student was also named a National Merit Semifinalist.

“I feel proud to be selected as a National Merit Semifinalist,” Chmaytelli sand in a statement. “I studied beforehand by taking the practice test the day before the PSAT and I was also lucky because I had taken my SAT a month before.”

The next step for the semifinalists and their schools is to submit a detailed scholarship application with academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. The student must also earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

The scholarships are underwritten by National Merit's own funds and by approximately 340 business organizations, colleges and universities.

Finalists will be notified in February.

“I was extremely excited to receive the semifinalist recognition. I have sent in my application to become a finalist and possibly win a scholarship as well,” Jarvis said in a statement. “Becoming a semifinalist will hopefully help me in my college admissions process as I think the distinction is a great way to showcase an area of strength in test-taking, though I recognize there are many factors to be considered when making decisions.”