Senior Wins National Merit Scholarship

Hauppauge High School senior Lauren McGarry  won a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship award. 

McGarry is one of 1,000 high school students who was selected across to receive a corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship award on May 4. Winners were selected based on their accomplishments, skills and potential for academic success in college, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

McGarry was one of about 1.5 million students from 22,000 high schools across the country who took the October 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Based on test scores, less than 1 percent of New York State's seniors were named semifinalists in the competition. McGarry was as a finalist in March.

As a finalist, McGarry had to submit a personal essay to be considered with her academic record, scores from two standardized tests, contributions and leadership in school and community activities, and a recommendation written by a high school official.

Hauppauge school district officials could not be reached for comment.