EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral and Principal Kelly Cavanaugh are pleased to announce that Oliver Ames High School senior Henry Ma has been named as a National Merit Scholarship Program finalist.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition that recognizes students for their outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Typically, more than 1.5 million students enter the program each year.
Finalists’ academic record, PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index score, written recommendations, information about their extracurricular activities and leadership, and their essays will now be taken into consideration to determine Merit Scholarships. Approximately 7,250 finalists will be selected to receive a National Merit Scholarship and earn the Merit Scholar title. Scholarship winners will begin to be notified in March.
“Selection as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program is a significant achievement and we are so proud to see Henry recognized for all of his success,” Principal Cavanaugh said. “He is an exceptional student and member of our school community, and we look forward to seeing all he will accomplish in his future.”
Ma has continuously excelled academically and in his extracurriculars during his time as a student at Oliver Ames. He is ranked fourth in the senior class and has served as treasurer for the school’s National Honor Society chapter, a class representative, president of the Computer Science Club and a peer leader, and has been a DECA member.
Ma participates in an eShadowing program through Medical School Headquarters and attended an advanced physics academy through Bridgewater State University. He has volunteered with multiple organizations and initiatives, including but not limited to, the Boston Medical Center Cancer Prevention Vaccine Study, Yawkey House of Possibilities, Ames Free Library, and the Boston Medical Center Telehealth Epilepsy Care Collaborative.
He has both received and been nominated for a multitude of prestigious awards, including through the AP Scholar program, the Atlantic-Pacific Mathematics League and Southeastern Massachusetts Mathematics League, and DECA, and has been recognized on the Honor Roll. He is also a skilled piano player and violinist, having several years of experience with each instrument.
“I am excited to receive this award and I’d like to express gratitude to my teachers, the guidance department and school administration, as well as my friends and family for always supporting me,” Ma said.
Additional information about the National Merit Scholarship Program can be found here.
About National Merit Scholarship Corporation:
Since its founding, NMSC has recognized over 3.4 million students and provided some 451,000 scholarships worth over $1.8 billion. The honors awarded by NMSC to exceptionally able students are viewed as definitive marks of excellence. Recipients of Merit Scholarship® awards, Achievement Scholarship® awards, and corporate-sponsored Special Scholarships have increased the nation’s respect for intellectual accomplishments and have contributed significantly to its talent pool of future leaders.
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