In this year’s National Merit Scholarship Program, 23 seniors from Columbus Academy have earned either Semifinalist or Commended Student honors!
The 13 Semifinalists – Sam Braveman, Anna Chang, Alicia Deng, Saketh Gudimetla, Grace Luo, Lainie Massick, Kendall McGraw, Adeti Mohanselvan, Alex Nanda, Cory Wu, Nicole Young, Max Zhang and Alan Zhu – are among less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide who have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.
As Commended Students, Saagar Arya, Tiko Bdoyan, Casey Cai, Tyler Ferris, John Hu, Yiling Hu, Stephen Ma, Jacob Mowery, Imani Munene and Ashley Tu are also being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic abilities and potential for success in rigorous college studies based on results from the PSAT exam they took as juniors last fall.
“We are so proud of these students because they each represent what is best in young people today,” stated Head of School Melissa Soderberg. “They work very hard on behalf of others, develop lots of skills in addition to academic and intellectual ones, and they admire their family members as some of the most inspirational people in their lives. We look forward to seeing their successes in the world.”
Learn more about each of our 2023 National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students below!
Saagar Arya of Lewis Center, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“I like building combat robots, history discussions and computer science. Favorite classes have been Honors World History, regular US history, and Honors Comp Sci 1, 2 & 3.”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“I play soccer and tennis, and with Jim Phieffer created a robotics team called Avalanche Robotics. I'm also an Eagle Scout.”
Who inspires you?
“My middle school engineering teacher from Village Academy, Mr. McDonley. Also Ms. Berkley, Mr. DeVore and Mr. Feinberg more recently. Historically, Alan Turing and Nick Holonyak. My parents and peers as well.”
Tiko Bdoyan of Gahanna, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“I enjoy computer science and learning about world affairs”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Co-president of World Affairs Club, Code Club, Model UN, and the Mediterranean and Easter European Affinity Group, Co-captain of the Debate team, Captain of the wrestling team, Co-Founder of KnowBeforeYouGo (KnowBeforeYouGo.co)”
Who inspires you?
“My parents inspire me above all.”
Sam Braveman of Galena, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Biology and Computer Science”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Student Body Co-President, Debate Team Co-Captain, Investment Club Co-President, Golf Team Member”
Who inspires you?
“My parents”
Casey Cai of Dublin, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Psychology and neuroscience”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Dancer at New Albany Ballet Company”
Who inspires you?
“My mom, mentors and friends”
Anna Chang of Worthington, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Economics, Comparative Government, Spanish, and of course, Advanced Bio with Mr. Davis freshman year!”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Girls Varsity Tennis Captain, Columbus Academy Youth Tennis Organization (CAYTO), Student Alumni Board representative, Global Leadership Council, Speech and Debate, and Science Olympiad”
Who inspires you?
“My parents and grandparents, my brother Ian, Coach Bryan, Coach Daniel, Coach Hoffman, Coach Marc, and my incredible best friends and teammates.”
Alicia Deng of Westerville, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“My favorite classes are Moral Philosophy, Honors Computer Science 3, and Portfolio Art.”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“I'm involved in Model UN, various service groups (Red Cross and Columbus Special Hockey), hockey, figure skating, and Student Council.”
Who inspires you?
“Leonardo Da Vinci”
Tyler Ferris of Upper Arlington, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“My favorite subject is English”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Outside of school I ride horses”
Who inspires you?
“My parents inspire me”
Saketh Gudimetla of New Albany, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“My favorite subjects are comparative government, economics, and statistics.”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“I am on the school tennis team and a part of Desi club and liberal club.”
Who inspires you?
“My inspirations are my mom and dad.”
John Hu of New Albany, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Computer science”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“I enjoy writing poetry and have an interest in biology”
Who inspires you?
“My former history teacher”
Yiling Hu of Upper Arlington, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Statistics”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Model UN, EAST Club, Basketball team”
Who inspires you?
“My Dad”
Grace Luo of Lewis Center, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Honors Computer Science, Honors Spanish 4, Advanced Biology”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Golf, Math Club, Code Club, Spanish Club”
Who inspires you?
“My parents, friends and teammates”
Stephen Ma of Worthington, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Economics, Statistics, Writing in the Market, and Journalism”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Ohio Attorney General’s Teen Ambassador Board; Brand Ambassador, Volunteer Coach, & Fundraiser for The First Tee of Central Ohio; Co-Captain, Varsity Golf Team; Co-Editor (previously Co-News Editor), School Newspaper”
Who inspires you?
“Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha – I grew up watching his ‘Secret Millionaires Club’ cartoons”
Lainie Massick of Blacklick, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Latin and Economics”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Latin club, Competitive fencing, and co-editor of The Academy Life”
Who inspires you?
“My mom, friends”
Kendall McGraw of Dublin, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“My favorite subjects are science and math, with some of my favorite classes being biology and statistics.”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Outside of school I am on a competitive dance team, and I am also a dance teacher at my dance studio.”
Who inspires you?
“My parents inspire me the most.”
Adeti Mohanselvan of New Albany, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“My favorite classes and subjects are European History, Calculus-Based Statistics, and Economics.”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“I am a captain on the school's varsity field hockey team, a captain on my club field hockey team, Coyotes, and I play competitive chess.”
Who inspires you?
“The person who inspires me the most is my older sister.”
Jacob Mowery of Columbus, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“I am very invested in mathematics, and am enjoying Honors Calculus-Based Statistics this year.”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“I am the captain of the CA Boys Bowling team and am also the leader of D&D Club and CA Greensweep.”
Who inspires you?
“I am consistently inspired by the teachers here at Academy and the work and care they invest into this place and their kids day after day.”
Imani Munene of Westerville, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“My favorite academic subjects are chemistry, music theory, and Spanish.”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“I am involved in Battle of the Books (co-president), Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra (Bassoon), United Columbus Academy (council-member), and the Science Olympiad.”
Who inspires you?
“I am inspired by my mother, because of her hard work and dedication. I am also inspired by Katherine Johnson and Florence Price.”
Alex Nanda of Delaware, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“All Honors Computer Science classes, Multivariable Calculus, Honors English, and Honors Physics”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Debate, Code Club, QUEST, Junior State of America, and Robotics”
Who inspires you?
“People who solve challenging problems in creative ways such as teachers, other students, or researchers”
Ashley Tu of Blacklick, Commended
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“My favorite classes I’ve taken throughout the course of my high school career at CA would be Honors Economics and Honors Computer Science!”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Here at CA, I am the captain of the soccer team, the Arts & Entertainment co-editor of The Academy Life newspaper, and the co-president of Art Society. I am also a proud member of the Service Board.”
Who inspires you?
“My biggest inspiration is my brother, who has taught me so much without even knowing it. I am so grateful to have a brother that both inspires and supports me every day.”
Cory Wu of Powell, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Math and science (Honors Chemistry and Honors Statistics)”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Varsity Soccer, Varsity Tennis, EAST Affinity Group, Student Alumni Board”
Who inspires you?
“Both of my parents inspire me, since they always work so hard to provide the best opportunities available for me.”
Nicole Young of New Albany, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“My favorite subjects are Computer Science and Chinese.”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“I’m a member of JSA, Science Olympiad, the lightsaber choreography and Greensweep clubs, and I work part time at Donna’s Delicious Dozen.”
Who inspires you?
“Ada Lovelace (an English mathematician and writer from the 1800s)”
Max Zhang of Westerville, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Honors Computer Science 3, Multivariable Calculus”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“EAST, Peer Tutoring, In The Know, schoolhouse.world”
Who inspires you?
“My mom”
Alan Zhu of Dublin, Semifinalist
What are your favorite academic subjects and/or specific classes?
“Honors Bio, Honors Comp Gov”
What clubs, sports teams or outside groups are you involved with?
“Speech/Debate, Film Club, East Asian Culture”
Who inspires you?
“Former chemistry teacher Mr. Ku”