Bethel Park student news for the week of Sept. 24, 2021
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National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Bethel Park High School seniors Lily Gaston and Oluwatoyosi Egbebi have each been selected as semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. They represent less than one percent of the U.S. high school seniors and qualify to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million to be offered next spring.
The students were among the highest-scoring participants in Pennsylvania, and out of more than 1.5 million juniors in more than 21,000 high schools nationwide, who entered the program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which is the initial screening for program entrants.
Merit Scholar designees will be selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and have good SAT scores on the qualifying test.
Keelan Donovan, Davis Jakel and Macy Mathias also earned recognition from the program.
PA graduate program
Justin Kennedy was recently enrolled in Marietta College’s Physician Assistant Graduate Program. Thirty-six students are part of the 19th class that began a rigorous 26-month journey in June.
Kennedy is scheduled to earn a master of science in physician assistant studies in July 2023. Kennedy earned an undergraduate degree from Keiser University.
Academic achievements
• Justin Volciac was named to the Dean’s List at Southern New Hampshire University for the summer 2021 semester
• Madeline Neel and John Maurer were named to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University for the summer 2021 semester
Graduates
• Jack W. Urso graduated from California University of Pennsylvania
AP Scholars
Thirty-five Bethel Park High School students were named Advanced Placement Scholars by the College Board in recognition of those students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through Advanced Placement Courses and Exams.
Approximately 22 percent of the 2.8 million students world-wide who took AP Exams in 2021 performed at a sufficiently high level to earn an AP Scholar Award.
Sixteen students were named AP Scholars with Distinction for receiving an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, with scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Bethel Park’s AP Scholars with Distinction are 2021 graduates John Alacce (Carnegie Mellon University), Tanush Bahl (University of Southern California), Jake Cook (Ohio State University), Harrison Cwiklinski (Penn State University), Ethan Donovan (Boston College), Sierra Kuzak (Washington & Jefferson College), Christian McClaine (University of Notre Dame), Demetrios Patrinos (Washington & Lee University), Sarah Plotz (University of Wyoming), Tobias Roule (Georgia Institute of Technology), Liam Tena (University of Pittsburgh), and Evan Zelt (Wake Forest University); and seniors Keelan Donovan, Oluwatoyosi Egbebi, Lily Gaston and David Jakel.
Six students were named AP Scholars with Honor for receiving an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, with scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. They are 2021 graduates Declan Bruskoski (Penn State University), Johnatan Ivanov (University of Pittsburgh), Katelyn Sams (University of Pittsburgh), Rachel Toth (Auburn University) and Elise Turka (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University); as well as seniors Sara Ackerman and Victoria Hoffman.
Twelve students were named AP Scholars for receiving scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. They are 2021 alumni Zachary Rectenwald (Penn State University), Benjamin Sommer (University of Pittsburgh), Henry Veltum (University of Pittsburgh), Michael Walsh (John Carroll University) and Lillian Williams; as well as Class of 2022 members Michael Bruni, Isabel Burke, Kristie Faber, Klaudia Menko, John Robert, Max Smith and Frank Visnikar.
Bethel Park High School currently offers 19 Advanced Placement classes.