Christine Smith Of Madison Named Semifinalist In 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program

Sacred Heart Academy senior Christine Smith received notification from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation that she has been named a Semifinalist in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

She is the daughter of Dr. Brian Smith & Dr. Keiren Smith of Madison. About 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2010 PSAT/NMSQT., which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

Christine Smith, along with this select group of academically talented high school seniors, now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarship awards, worth more than $34 million that will be offered next spring.

To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance. Approximately 90 percent of Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar title. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference.

Named a Sr. Antonine Signorelli, ASCJ Scholar for her outstanding entrance exam scores and for demonstrating exceptional academic potential, Christine Smith has earned highest honors since attending Sacred Heart. She is a member of the National Honor and Spanish National Honor Societies, as well as the National Math Honor Society - Mu Alpha Theta. She serves as treasurer of Shakespeare Club and is involved in both the musical productions and the drama club. An avid member of Campus Ministry, she participated in last winter she participated a mission trip in New York City where she served at the Catholic Worker. She has also served at Clelian Heights in Pennsylvania, an educational facility for children with mental disabilities. Last spring, she was named a 2011 Connecticut Governors Scholar from an entry pool of the top juniors in Connecticut. Outside of school, Smith is an accomplished ballet dancer and member of the New Haven Ballet Company.

This article was contributed by Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, CT. If you have an article or photos to contributed to Madison Patch, please email pem.mcnerney@patch.com.