Wantagh Teen Named a National Merit Semifinalist

Liam Lang, a Wantagh resident and senior at Levittown’s MacArthur High School, has been named one of 16,000 semifinalists in the 58th National Merit Scholarship Program and will compete next spring for one of the National Merit Scholarships, which altogether total approximately $34 million.      

The road to becoming a National Merit semifinalist, and then finalist, is highly competitive. More than 1.5 million high school juniors from approximately 22,000 high schools nationwide entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2011 Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.      

To become a finalist, the semifinalist must maintain his or her academic record throughout the school year, receive a recommendation from the high school principal, and achieve SAT scores that are commensurate with his or her earlier PSAT performance. The semifinalist must also submit an application and self-descriptive essay about his or her performance and leadership in school and community service activities.      

An exemplary student, Liam is enrolled in a competitive academic program and was recently designated an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor by the College Board. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, a Renaissance cardholder, an accomplished musician and a member of the Key Club.