Two Salesianum Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

Fifteen earn commended status

Wilmington, Del. (September 28, 2006) - Principal Rev. William J. McCandless, OSFS is pleased to announce that two Salesianum seniors have been named 2007 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and 15 have received commended status in the program.

Steven Foltz and Benjamin Linskey 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 Harry Arena, John Bockrath, Justin Field, Jon-Marc Finamore, Justin Giglia, Joshua Greever, Shawn Heiss, Brett Hession, Kevin Kowal, Addison Maier, David McNeeley, Nathaniel Reed, Timothy Richard, Joseph Smith and Dorsey Terry.

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.

Please contact Jon Allison '97, alumni & communications director, at (302) 654-2495 ext. 143 with any questions.