By ZACHARY WOZNAK ’12
Eye Managing Editor
The posters have become inescapable. All around the school, large, glossy signs celebrating Saint Ignatius High School’s 49 National Merit Scholars have taken up the coveted wall space usually reserved for pieces of printer paper advertising cornhole tournaments and Notre Dame tailgates.
Despite the high profile campaign, many members of the Ignatius community are still confused about what it means to be a National Merit Scholar.
This year’s program began last fall with the administration of the PSAT to the Class of 2012. While the students had been notified of their scores by early December, their status as scholars wasn’t released until this past September. Students from Saint Ignatius High School performed exceptionally: 20 seniors scored 214 points or higher (on a scale of 240 points) to be named Semifinalists. Twenty-nine more students scored between 202 and 213 to be named Commended Students. The 49 students honored were more than the number from all other area Catholic schools combined.
The next step for the semifinalists will be the final round in which they compete to be named one of approximately 15,000 National Merit Finalists. Students will not be notified until February of their finalist status, but if current standings are any indicator, the Wildcats should be met with continued success.
