James Gong and Elijah Ewell from Guilderland High School have achieved the honor of being named finalists for the prestigious National Merit Scholarship, highlighting their remarkable commitment to educational excellence.
“We are very proud of James and Elijah. This is an impressive academic achievement and is a recognition of years of hard work and dedication,” said Principal Mike Piscitelli.
National Merit Scholarship Finalists represent a distinguished group of high school seniors, totaling around 15,000 top scorers (approximately 95% of semifinalists) who advance in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation program. To qualify, students must:
- Maintain outstanding academic records
- Submit a scholarship application that includes an essay
- Obtain endorsement from their high school
- Confirm their high PSAT scores with SAT or ACT results
GHS school counselor Ashley Kaplan says, “Elijah is a mature, creative, and intrinsically motivated individual with a passion for learning and strong intellectual curiosity.” In the classroom, he is a positive influence and a natural leader, respected by peers for his contributions. Outside of academics, he excels as a talented, gold medal-winning gymnast and a dedicated volunteer, balancing his time between national competitions and community service.