Five Salesianum Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

Wilmington, Del. (September 28, 2005) - Principal Rev. William J. McCandless, OSFS is pleased to announce that five Salesianum seniors have been named 2006 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and 19 have received commended status in the program.

Front row, from left: John Marcinizyn, James Knox, Kyle Bradley, Robert Marquis, Timothy McConnell, Michael Augsberger, Sean McIntyre, Anthony Gallo, Joseph Oehmke, Timothy Mercure. Second row, from left: Dr. Michael Tidd, academic dean, Zachary McCormick, Tyler Emptage, Michael Braun, Bradford Mihalik, Andrew Marenco, Rev. James Dalton, OSFS, president, Brad Einstein, Joseph Rendemonti, Joseph Falandays, Thomas Schrandt, Timothy Spear, Thomas Bounds, Michael Jornlin, Rev. William McCandless, OSFS, principal. Not pictured: Stephen Miller, Scott Wetzel.

Michael Braun, Thomas Bounds, Bradley Einstein, Timothy Mercure and Joseph Rendemonti earned semifinalist status and are now eligible for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship Awards, worth $33 million, that will be offered in the spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements and advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to become finalists, and approximately half of the finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners.

Commended students at Salesianum include Michael Augsberger, Kyle Bradley, Tyler Emptage, Joseph Falandays, Anthony Gallo, Michael Jornlin, James Knox, John Marcinizyn, Andrew Marenco, Robert Marquis, Timothy McConnell, Zachary McCormick, Sean McIntyre, Bradford Mihalik, Stephen Miller, Joseph Oehmke, Thomas Schrandt, Timothy Spear and Scott Wetzel.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was founded in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Program. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by NMSC's own funds and approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions which share NMSC's goals of honoring the nation's scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Salesianum School is a Roman Catholic independent secondary school that teaches young men to Live Jesus, guided by the spirituality of Saint Francis de Sales, through a college preparatory education, enabling them to take their place in the world as Salesian gentlemen.

A photo of the students is available upon request. For interviews or more information, please contact Jon Allison '97, alumni & communications director, at (302) 654-2495 ext. 143.