Seneca student is semifinalist

JACKSON TWP — Eric McElhinny, a Seneca Valley High School senior, is a semifinalist in the 60th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

He will continue in the competition for a National Merit Scholarship that will be offered next spring.

The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.

Thirteen other Seneca Valley students were named commended students in the National Merit Scholarship Program. They are Jonathan Asseff, Marcin Chrzanowski, Hayley Hoss, Adam Johanknecht, Brendan Kennelty, Kelvin Lalonde, Andrew Lingenfelter, Gregory McKibbin, David Osorno, Lauren Ottaviani, Michael Palaski, Alexander Park and Amanda Spangler.

Commended students placed among the top five percent of students who entered the competition.

The 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is the initial screen for program entrants.