Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District Boasts 39 Merit Scholarship Finalists

Thirty‐nine Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District students have been named finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Started in 1955, the program awards only one percent of the approximately 1.5
million students who participate by taking the Preliminary SAT, which measures critical reading, math problem‐solving and writing skills.

In March, the program will begin mailing scholarship offers to the approximately 8,400 students who will have earned the title of National Merit Scholar. The scholarships will total more than $34 million and are funded by corporations, business organizations, and colleges and universities.

The rigorous process has honored the likes of Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Chief Justice John Roberts.

For 2013, the LGSUHSD finalists are:

1. Niharika M. Bedekar
2. Elyse J. Berlinberg
3. Shreya Chaganti
4. Justin Chiang
5. Amanda Yuling Chow
6. Edward X. Dong
7. Andy Fang
8. Mckenna Nicole Galvin
9. Kevin M. Garbe
10. Jacqueline L. Gu
11. Catherine Han
12. Dylan Nakagawa Jew
13. Evaline Ju
14. Paul Wonjin Jung
15. Danielle Katz
16. Yukiye Koide
17. Brian M. Kim
18. Brian Y. Kim
19. Michael Taylor Lee
20. Ye Seon Lee
21. Nole Lin
22. Maggy Liu
23. Aneesa Mazumdar
24. Priyanka Nookala
25. Suzannah K. Osekowsky
26. Nandita Sampath
27. Adam Silverman
28. Sudarshan Seshadri
29. Deborah Soung
30. Bhavana Vadrevu
31. Joyce Y. Wang
32. Terrance Wang
33. Patrick L. Xiao
34. Christine Xue
35. Rebecca S. Yang
36. Matthew F. Yee
37. Stanley Christopher Yip
38. Geena Y. Zhou
39. Sophia R. Zhu

District Superintendent Bob Mistele congratulated each of the finalists. “These students exemplify the hard work going on in our district by students, their teachers and their families. We are so proud of all of our students and their accomplishments, both as students and as members of the school community
and beyond. I wish each of the students recognized by this prestigious program success throughout their academic career and wherever life takes them. Congratulations,” he said.