Schafer distinguished as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist

MONROEVILLE — One Monroeville High School student, Zebediah (Zeb) Schafer, recently was distinguished as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. Schafer joins a group of elite students of finalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. He will have an opportunity to compete for one nearly 7,500 National Merit Scholarships collectively worth almost $32 million. "Monroeville High School is extremely excited that Zeb has received this high honor," school counselor Jen Harvey said. "The staff and students couldn't be more delighted. This is an exciting moment for all of us." "He is one of the elite, and I couldn't be more proud of him. This honor is something he has strived and worked for academically his entire high school career." About 1.6 million juniors from more than 22,000 high schools tried for entrance into the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Scores from this test served as an initial screening of applicants. Of the 16,000 seniors chosen as semifinalists, Schafer is one of 5,000 will continue as a finalist. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. The finalists were notified in February, and scholarships will be awarded starting in April and concluding in July. Zebediah is the son of Don and the late Annette Schafer. "I know Zeb's parents are extremely proud of his academic accomplishments," Harvey said.