47 Columbia High School Students Receive Accolades from College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – The South Orange and Maplewood community celebrates academic excellence at the start of the school year, with 47 Columbia High School students being recognized in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program and the College Board’s Recognition Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has a long-standing tradition of honoring academic excellence without government funding and offers scholarships through the support of nearly 280 national businesses, colleges, and individual donors dedicated to recognizing the nation’s brightest young minds.

Commended students were acknowledged for their exceptional academic promise, demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the qualifying test for the program. In October 2023, students entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The NMSC identifies the top 50,000 highest scorers and notifies them of their high achievement.

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"These students have shown an exceptional level of intelligence and determination, and working with such brilliant and motivated students is truly a privilege,” Frank Sanchez, the principal of Columbia High School said. “I also want to commend our incredible CHS faculty for mentoring, inspiring, and teaching these gifted students.”

National Merit Semifinalists for Spring 2025

1. Theodore Abbate
2. Ruby Hoffman-Werle
3. Henry Martin
4. Oliver Nesin

National Merit Commended

1. Steven Alexander
2. Niharika Bajaj
3. Jos Brophy
4. Anaya Center
5. Max Coey
6. Claire Cross
7. Jonathan Crosse
8. Jasper Cunningham
9. Luke Davenport
10. Brendan Delaney
11. Marwan El-Gabry
12. Grayson Friedman
13. Lia Giger
14. Asa Glassman
15. Samuel Hanger
16. Odile Hannon
17. Emily Hinge
18. Abigail Ho
19. Jacob Kamen
20. Noah Lederman
21. Tessa Lipkin
22. Nathaniel Martin
23. Jacob Schaefer
24. Penelope Takizawa-Soper
25. Timothy Van De North
26. Jason Yonteff

College Board Recognition Program: African American Scholars

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1. Patrick Anicette
2. Kai Capers
3. Zahra Davis
4. Lydia Friedman
5. Samuel Memo
6. Aidan O'Hanlon-Boone
7. Eden Philippe

College Board Recognition Program: First-Generation Scholars

1. Michelle Chen
2. Sharon Chen
3. Sherry Chen

College Board Recognition Program: Hispanic Scholars

1. Isabel Garcia-Maxon
2. Isabel Hahr
3. Sophie Irfani
4. Audrey Noguera
5. Sebastian Rios-Valdez
6. Liset Zacker

College Board Recognition Program: Hispanic and Indigenous Scholar

1. Abigail Pasternack

The excitement continues at Columbia High School, as four students— Theodore Abbate, Ruby Hoffman-Werle, Henry Martin, and Oliver Nesin —have been named semifinalists in the prestigious 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These exceptional students are part of an elite group of more than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, with the opportunity to advance in the competition and vie for scholarships in Spring 2025.

“South Orange and Maplewood educators have done an outstanding job inspiring, mentoring, and guiding students throughout their academic journey,” Superintendent Jason Bing said. “These achievements represent great collective efforts of our entire community—students, teachers, staff, and families all previously working together to foster an environment where every student can thrive. We are excited to continue supporting these scholars throughout their academic journey.”

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), approximately 95% of semifinalists are expected to advance to finalist status, and about half of those finalists will earn the prestigious Merit Scholar® title. In total, nearly 6,870 National Merit Scholarships will be awarded, with recipients sharing $26 million in scholarships to support their educational pursuits.

These four students exemplify not only their own dedication and hard work but also the unwavering support of the educators who have guided them throughout their academic journeys.

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About the School District of South Orange & Maplewood

The School District of South Orange & Maplewood proudly serves over 7,200 students across ten schools, including one early childhood center, six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The district creates a learner-centered environment that offers multiple pathways for academic success through reimagined structures, support, and innovative instructional methods for all students.

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