Whiz Kid: Advancing To National Merit Scholarship FInals

Lauren McGarry

Whiz Kid's Grade: senior
Whiz Kid's School: Hauppauge High School 

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: McGarry was selected to advance as a finalist in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program competition. 

Whiz Kid's Key To Awesomeness: McGarry is one of 160 students from Long Island who was advanced to the final round to compete for 8,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $36 million. 

“To be among the top one percent in the entire country is a remarkable accomplishment,” said High School Principal Christine O’Connor in a statement.  “We are very proud of Lauren.

Approximately 1.5 million high school juniors entered the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Nearly 50,000 of these candidates qualify for recognition in the competition, with only 15,000 advancing to finalist standings in February each year. 

Finalists will be evaluated based on their academic record, school curriculum, two sets of test scores, school officials' written recommendations, and information on the students activities and leadership within the schools, according to the National Merit Scholarship Competition's website. 

McGarry is also the valedictorian for Hauppauge's Class of 2011. 

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