NEW CASTLE Small school, big brainpower: 5 Merit Scholarship finalists

Neshannock High School also had a commended student who received recognition.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Emily Daugherty, Scott Duda, Fred Perrotta, Chad Plummer and Joe Roberts -- five people couldn't be more different.
Emily has a passion for baking and decoupage; Scott runs cross country and is in the school musical; Chad is a football captain and former marching band member; Joe plays five instruments; and Fred is a laid-back ex-basketball player.
Even with all those differences they all share one important trait. These five Neshannock High School seniors are semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program -- an academic competition that gives scholarships and recognition to college-bound high schoolers.
A sixth Neshannock senior, Anna Hennon, was named a commended student. She isn't eligible for a scholarship, but received a commendation for her academic performance.
Amazing feat
Educators say it is unheard of to have five semifinalists and a commended student in one district -- particularly one as small as Neshannock which averages 70 graduates a year.
"To have five kids in a big school district is one thing, but this is an absolute exception," said Neshannock High School Principal Maynard Harvey.
Harvey credits the district's focus on education for the high number of National Merit Semifinalists this year.
"Neshannock is unique in the sense that kids in this community typically value education. Learning is important here and the school reflects it," he said.
Last year the district had one National Merit Semifinalist, Matthew Cusick, who went on to become a finalist and is now attending Stanford University.
Stiff competition
The academic competition starts early with high school juniors taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test the fall before their senior year. Only about 16,000 of the 1.2 million high schoolers who take the test make it to the semifinalist competition.
Only about 8,000 will get scholarship awards which are funneled through corporations and specific colleges and universities. Those awards will be announced this spring.
The Neshannock five say they are happy to be named semifinalists even if some of the schools they are applying to don't offer National Merit Scholarships.
"It looks good on college applications," said Chad Plummer, who is applying to Stanford and Carnegie-Mellon universities to study computer science.
"Even thought a lot of schools don't recognize it. It's definitely a national honor," added Fred Perrotta, who is also considering attending Carnegie-Mellon and the University of Maryland to study computer science and business.
An exceptional bunch
Guidance counselor Brenda DeVincentis said making it to the semifinals is as much about having a good day the test is given as it is about being smart.
But she adds that these five pupils are an exceptional bunch that take advanced placement and college level courses, as well as participate in school sports and other activities.
"Their personal qualities are outstanding. They are willing to help each other and other students," she said.
The students credit the school and teachers for their academic success.
"I think a lot of the teachers here like what they do. They live and breath it," Scott Duda said. Scott is applying to Harvard and Cornell to study environmental policy and civil engineering.
Joe Roberts added the district was accommodating when he had a scheduling problem. He couldn't attend an advanced biology class because it conflicted with another course, but the teacher offered to give him the lessons during a free period. He wants to study math and chemistry at Carnegie-Mellon or Princeton.
Worth the effort
The students say even if they don't become finalists and win scholarships, being named semifinalists has been well worth it.
"I've gotten a lot more mail [from colleges] because of it. Things had slowed down last summer and I was starting to get worried," said Emily Daugherty. Emily wants to study education and English, but hasn't picked a college yet.