Leader Reporter - Priya Persaud - Wins National Merit Semi-Finals

By Niall Fitzgerald A leading student-reporter of the North Shore Leader newspaper has won the semi-finalist round in the National Merit Scholarship program. Persaud is a Senior at New Hyde Park High School, and has been a reporter and writer for the Leader for over two years. “We are so proud of Priya,” stated assistant editor Chris O’Neill. “She is a great writer, has an inquiring mind, and will be going on to do great things following her graduation.” The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced 16,000 semi-finalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The semi-finalists will be eligible to compete for some 7,250 National Merit scholarships worth nearly $28 million. Nearly 95 percent of the semi-finalists are expected to reach finalist standing, and approximately 50% of the finalists will then win a National Merit scholarship. Persaud does not yet know where she will be attending college, but has already been interviewed at several of the top Ivy League universities.