PV principal Mr. Tom DeMaio congratulated the PV students recognized as National Commended Merit Scholars.

These excelling students are Meghan Doody, Noelle Garbaccio, Ethan Griffee, Zachary Kaplan, Eric Liu, Jennifer Peshansky, Owen Rosini, Hana Shapiro, Patrick Song, Nicholas Urbaniak, Daniel William Ayoub, Donna Yoo, and Zoe Ziegler.

A student earning a result in the top one percent of the PSAT test takers may be entered in a competition for a National Merit Scholarship. Students are notified the year after the PSAT if they scored well enough to qualify for the scholarship. The subsequent February is when the semifinalists are officially chosen based on their other academic achievements.

Irene Ju was entered in the competition for the NMSP. Becoming a National Commended Merit Scholar and winning the competition will provide $2,500 towards her first year of college.

“I am very proud of each and every one of them and I know they will all be very successful at whatever they choose to pursue after their time here at PV,” DeMaio said.

Every state is different in terms of what score is needed on the PSAT to qualify for becoming a National Commended Merit Scholar. 240 points equals a perfect score and New Jersey is the hardest state to get an NMSP recognition.

New Jersey requires a 224 out of a possible 240, while Delaware only requires a 215 out of 240.

PSAT stands for “Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test” and the test is available for sophomores to take a year before most students choose to take the the SAT, which is during junior year. Taking the PSAT provides an opportunity for students to identify their strengths and weaknesses for the SAT.

Even though the PSAT is used to practice for the SAT, it is recommended that students always put forth their best effort and try their hardest.

“I am not a big fan of standardized assessments,” DeMaio said. “I believe there is a lot more to a person than looking at some results on a paper; however, it is a part of the admission process for colleges, so we need to understand how it works and what we can do to give ourselves the best chance to be successful.”

Across the United States, 50,000 entrants with high PSAT scores, or about the top three percent, are notified that they are qualified for the National Merit Scholars Program (NMSP).