Two North Hills Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists

North Hills Senior High School seniors Kevin Loughlin and Elisabeth Spear have been chosen as 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists.

Loughlin and Spear represent two of the 15,000 students selected for the nationwide honor. A total of 8,200 seniors will be announced as National Merit Scholarship winners this spring.

McLouglin and Spear were named two of the 16,000 high school seniors named scholarship semifinalists in early September and underwent an application process during the intervening months to be named finalists. Nationwide, semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and their ranks include the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Throughout his high school career, Loughlin has been active in National Honor Society, Westinghouse Science Honors Institute, Mock Trial and Hands for Service. He serves as varsity soccer captain, French Club vice president and senior class treasurer.

Outside of school, Loughlin participates in PA Crew Soccer where he serves as captain and PA West Olympic Development program. He volunteers as an assistant soccer coach at St. Sebastian School and serves as an altar server at St. Sebastian Parish.

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Spear participates in National Honor Society and is active in Drama Club musicals, plays and stage crew. She is a member of the North Hills FightingIndians Marching Band and North Hills Senior High Symphonic Band.

Beyond North Hills, she serves as an English as Second Language tutor and is active in her church youth group and a youth leadership team for area youth groups.

The National Merit program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – a test which serves as an initial screening of approximately 1.5 million juniors in 22,000 high schools each year – and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

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