Seventeen CHS seniors have been recognized for outstanding academic success by the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Corporation, including four who earned distinction as 2009 National Merit Semifinalists.

Selected for their outstanding finishes in the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) are Semifinalists David Hill, Rachel O. Porcher, Samik S. Shah and Edward Z. Wang. The distinction puts them in the top 1 percent, or 16,000, of seniors nationwide.

As Semifinalists, the four are among the highest-scoring students in New Jersey on the Preliminary SAT and are automatically eligible to advance in the competitive scholarship program. In February, Finalists will be announced and roughly half of them will collect $2,500 scholarships.

Also finishing high, but below the level of Semifinalist, are Commended Scholars Christina M. Boyce-Jacino, Tyler A. Brennan, Sara A. Cifelli, Laura A. Feibush, Ross D. Holley, Gabriel M. Lewin, Laura M. McGill, Robinson G. Meyer, Gemma C. Milly, Alexandra J. Murr, Rachel S. Norris, Eric D. Tengi and Sijia Zhao.

Commended Scholar status is considered particularly impressive in New Jersey where it is comparatively more difficult to advance in the National Merit program than in the majority of other states. Qualifying scores vary from state to state, based on average test scores and the volume of test takers. New Jersey has the second highest qualifying score in the country, because of its high number of test takers and high average score, and many New Jersey students who fail to reach the cutoff for Semifinalist status here would qualify easily in many other states.

The students will be honored by the Board of Education at its Nov. 17 meeting. The 7:30 p.m. meeting, to be held at Central High School, will be preceded by a reception for students and their families.