IN Murrysville Winter 2019 | Page 39

FRSH Proud of Four National Merit® Semifinalists The 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists are: (from left): Manali Badwe, River Sell, Marshal Mao, and Daniel Kline. F ranklin Regional Senior High School (FRSH) is pleased to announce it has four 2020 National Merit ® Scholarship Competition Semi-Finalists. The students receiving this honor are Manali Badwe, River Sell, Marshal Mao, and Daniel Kline. Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit ® Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. In early September, about 15,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis. Semifinalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Qualifying scores vary from state to state and from year to year, but the scores of all Semifinalists are extremely high. NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist. Elementary Campus: Inside the Student Innovation Centers P rompting students to solve problems and develop themselves as leaders are key in today’s world of education. Franklin Regional believes that learning happens best when children collaborate. As part of the new Intermediate and Primary Schools on the FR Elementary Campus, students and teachers will be able to take advantage of several Student Innovation Centers that will enhance STREAM (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) educational opportunities. Inside these Centers, students will experience robotics, computer science, computer programming and environmental education. These Centers are designed to meet the needs of the STREAM curriculum at the lower grade levels. The Centers will also be equipped with laser cutters, 3D printers, virtual reality goggles, and other high- tech gadgets. One part of the Center will be dedicated to STREAM-based classes and, in the 3-5 building, one part will be centered on innovative learning. A wall, that separates the two class areas, is able to be retracted so that the learning area can be combined for larger group instruction. The Centers were designed to be flexible so that regular education classes may have the opportunity to use them as well. Three Student Innovation Centers are planned for the Intermediate School. One Center will be on each level of the school serving Grades 3, 4 and 5. The Primary school will also have three Innovation Centers so that students at Franklin Regional from the very first day start learning about STREAM and innovative approaches to learning. MURRYSVILLE ❘ WINTER 2019 37