Twenty Great Neck South High School seniors have been named semifinalists in the prestigious 2014 National Merit Scholarship Competition. The semifinalists scored among the highest in New York State on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which they took last year.
The Semifinalists are: Alexandra Chen, Elizabeth Chi, May Hlaing, Da Young (Clara) Hong, David Hong, Joseph Kim, Kevin Kim, Kyutae (John) Kim, Allison Kornrich, Kara Kupferberg, Cristina Lai, Christine Lee, Lora Pavlovich, Alexander Putter, Seung Yeon (Christine) Song, Radhika Viswanathan, Avir Waxman, Caroline Weinberg, Angell Xiang and Chae Rin Yoon.
The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. These semifinalists, who represent less than one percent of seniors in the state, will be identified to colleges and universities in order to increase their educational opportunities.
Most semifinalists will go on to achieve finalist status in early 2014. Merit scholarship winners will be chosen from among the finalists to receive one of three types of merit scholarship awards.
Twelve highly talented high school music students have been selected for the competitive 2013 NYSSMA Conference All-State, to be held in Rochester, Dec. 5 to 8. In addition, nine students were named alternates for the event.
Great Neck North High School All-State musicians are: Emily Gold (cello, Symphony Orchestra), Leerone Hakami (violin, String Orchestra), Spencer Poon (English Horn, Symphonic Band), and Eric Wang (violin, Symphony Orchestra). North High alternates are: Richard Feder (vocal bass and jazz alto saxophone), and Lawrence Tan, (violin). North High instrumental students are taught by Joseph Rutkowski. Vocal students are taught by Dr. Janine Robinson and Roger Ames.
Instrumental students selected for All-State from South High are: Elizabeth Chi (tenor saxophone, Symphonic Band), Rebecca Schifilliti (flute, Symphonic Band), Alison Zhao (violin, String Orchestra), and Emily Zhou (bassoon, Wind Ensemble). Vocal students selected: Diana Charlop (soprano, Women’s Chorus), Michelle Geffner (soprano, Mixed Chorus), Jasmine Krause (soprano, Women’s Chorus), and Alex Schecter (bass, Mixed Chorus).
South High alternates include: Justin Kelly (tenor), James Kennedy (bass), Christine Lee (flute), Rebecca Schifilliti (piccolo), Grace Song (cello), Sherry Yang (cello), and Anne Yim (cello). South High students are taught by Michael Schwartz, performing arts department head/instrumental music teacher, and Dr. Pamela Levy, vocal teacher.
