EVANSTON, IL —Today, National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced this year’s National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners, nine from Rhode Island, including one Warwick student.
The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program.
National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
These Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.
Rhode Island’s 2019 National Merit Scholars
Daniel R. Sheinberg, Barrington High School BARRINGTON – Probable career field: Biology
John B. Fay, Wheeler School, Providence, BRISTOL Probable career field: Undecided
Alexandra Lee, Moses Brown School, Providence EAST GREENWICH Probable career field: Medicine
Owen T. Petito, East Greenwich High School, EAST GREENWICH Probable career field: Mechanical Engineering
Ari S. Vilker, East Greenwich High School, EAST GREENWICH Probable career field: Biology
Spencer Dellenbaugh, St. Georges School, Middletown, PORTSMOUTH Probable career field: Computer Science
Samuel Yelnosky, Wheeler School, PROVIDENCE Probable career field: Public Policy
Andrew R. Goyette, Mount St. Charles Academy, SMITHFIELD Probable career field: Biochemistry
Alexander E. Gavitt, Toll Gate High School, WARWICK Probable career field: Physics