Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation have announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.  Among them are six students from Bishop Hendricken High School, comprising the largest number of boys from any high school in Rhode Island. Overall, the semifinalists make up one third of the 50,000 high scorers. 

Hendricken principal, Jay Brennan, Jr. ’72, released the names of the following semifinalists: Riley J. Chabot, Coventry, Andrew S. Hong, Warwick, Aidan A. Kendra, Cranston, Michael P. Moren, Warwick, Nicholas J. Roy, North Kingstown and Miles M. Temel of Westerly. 

“We’re extremely proud of these six students and salute them for the hard work and dedication that awarded them this esteemed recognition,” said. Brennan.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test which includes critical reading, mathematics and writing skills scores.

These academically talented Hendricken seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million.  About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, while approximately half of the finalists will receive notification in June that they have won a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.