Five Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists, 17 Named Commended Students

Five Holton seniors have been named 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists: Calla Doh, Madeline Feldner, Eleanor Goodin, Ava Greathouse, and Maya Lall. The five seniors qualified for the accolade by taking the 2021 PSAT. They were among 16,000 students selected as semifinalists, representing less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors. 

These students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered this spring. 

An additional 19 students were recognized as National Merit Commended Students: Ayleen Acosta, Marika Clark, Alyssa DeSarbo, Lindsay Greenspan, Emiko Hakutani, Sophia Hall, Naomi Horne, Jessica Lian, Amy Lu, Kali Mathura, Stephanie Mo, Gabrielle Morin, Sophia Ouanes, Naiya Patel, Margot Ruland, Josephina Wang, and Lucy Weems. These students placed among the top 50,000 who took the 2021 PSAT.

Seven seniors were also recognized as designated scholars by the College Board, which administers the PSAT. 

Ayleen Acosta and Manuela Guzman are College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Designated Scholars. Billi Hall, Jinessa Miles, Kali Mathura, Maya Warner, and Mesoma Ezebuiro are College Board National African American Recognition Program Designated Scholars; recipients include those who identify as Black, African-American, and Afro-Caribbean origin.

Congratulations, seniors!