Two PCD Students Named National Merit Semifinalists
PCD is excited to announce that two members of the Class of 2025, Brady Jones and Nerissa Theisen, have been named Semifinalists in the 70th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. They represent the top 0.5% of senior students who took the PSAT nationally last fall. Out of 1.3 million American students who took the PSAT, there are only 16,000 Semifinalists from across the nation.
“We are proud to celebrate this achievement with Brady and Nerissa and their families,” said Head of Upper School Jen Aitken. “Nerissa and Brady share a passion for learning and their hard work and dedication are an inspiration to their peers. In addition to the intellectual curiosity they bring to our classrooms, Brady and Nerissa also bring a spirit of generosity that is evident in the time they spend serving PCD and their local communities. We are excited to see where the future takes them for college and beyond!”
Brady and Nerissa are both members of the Cum Laude Honor Society and are active in many other aspects of PCD life, including athletics and various student organizations. Brady is a member of the Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track teams, as well as part of the Robotics program (the RoboKnights) and a co-captain of the Math Team. He plans on majoring in mathematics in college. Nerissa is also a member of both the PCD Cross Country team and the RoboKnights and is a gifted writer. She plans to major in mechanical engineering in college.
To advance as a finalist, the students will submit detailed scholarship applications, which include their academic records, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Finalists must also earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm their earlier performance on the qualifying test. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. This school year, there are 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.
“The PCD community is extremely proud of Brady and Nerissa and we wish them the best of luck as they continue in the National Merit Scholarship Program,” said Head of School Kevin Folan. “Their efforts so far have already set them apart and we can’t wait to see what they will accomplish going forward, both at PCD and in college.”
.png){kind=logo}
