National Merit Semifinalists Announced :::
Lyons Township High School is proud to announce that nine seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists. These students will continue to compete for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships that will be offered in the spring.
More than 1.5 million students nationwide entered the Merit Program as juniors by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. High scorers were designated Semifinalists, representing less than 1% of the state’s graduating class. In total, just over 16,000 academically talented high school seniors qualified nationwide.
LT’s nine National Merit Semifinalists will advance to the Finalist level upon completion of additional requirements. They must maintain an outstanding academic record throughout their senior year, be endorsed and recommended by their principal, submit SAT scores that confirm their earlier qualifying test, and complete a scholarship application detailing their leadership and community activities.
Congratulations to the following Semifinalists:
K. Chilton
A straight “A” student with three Advanced Placement courses under her belt and three more
this semester, Chilton is just as busy outside the classroom. She is a member of the varsity tennis
and track teams and is an art contributor and reader for LT’s literary magazine, Menagerie. She
also participates in several charitable efforts, including Relay for Life, a church youth group and
an upcoming mission trip with ICARE, a program to equip people of Guatemala with eyeglasses. While
undecided about where or what to study in college, a recent study abroad in Barcelona gave her an
opportunity to study both art and global medicine.
D. Cuba
A young man of many talents, Donald Cuba is an alternate captain on the Lyons Township Hockey
Club and was chosen as an alternate All-Star for the Illinois Suburban Hockey League. He is
pursuing his pilot’s license, is an active member in Quest, a church youth group, and is currently
taking four Advanced Placement courses. He’s a Gold “L” award winner, a member of the Spanish Honor
Society and National Honor Society, and a reader for LT’s literary magazine, Menagerie.
M. Georges
Dance, Latin, journalism, and chemistry are just a few of the courses keeping Georges busy
during the school day. After school, Theatre Board, Congressional Debate Team, Lion, Math Team,
Latin Club and WLTL radio fill the rest of her day. Dedicated to both arts and sciences, Georges is
extremely active and comfortable in both leadership and supporting roles. She is a Captain of
Debate, Art Director for Lion, Secretary of the Math Team, Theatre Board Technical Chairperson, and
an International Honors Thespian, having completed 600 hours of on and offstage theatre work.
J. Gibbons
A veteran member and executive officer of Student Council, Gibbons serves as President this
year. He is also on the Executive Board of Model United Nations, having won the Outstanding
Delegate title last year. He has seven plays under his belt, having acted in six of them and served
as an assistant director in another. Gibbons also participates in several charitable and social
causes. He founded a local chapter of Students for a Free Tibet, participated in Save Darfur, and
co-directed a scavenger hunt to raise money for Reading is Fundamental.
N. Largen
An active and valued member of Math Team, Largen helped LT take 10th in State. He was on the
4th place Junior Team and the 6th place Junior-Senior 8-Person Team. He is also a member of
Scholastic Bowl and Spanish Honors Society. He plays in the symphonic orchestra and has
participated in Solo and Ensemble Festival. Largen is also involved in the fight against cancer and
helps raise money for the American Cancer Society by participating the Relay For Life; he served as
a team captain last year.
P. Moriarty
Moriarty is currently ranked first in the senior class. Balance is key when you have to
juggle six Advanced Placement classes, with being first chair violinist in symphonic orchestra, a
member of the cross country and track teams, a medal-winning member of the Math Team, and a page at
a local library. Moriarty also finds time to tutor, dance in the annual musical, and raise money
for cancer through Relay for Life.
T. Murphy
A self-professed proficient multi-tasker, Murphy thrives on a full schedule. She is the
Student Representative to the Board of Education serving to improve and increase student
participation and presence in school operations. She is an award-winning member of the Model Untied
Nations and serves as the club’s Secretary General. She is also a reader and group leader for LT’s
literary magazine, Menagerie, and an active member of Peer Leadership and Students for a Free
Tibet. Outside of school, she is involved with a church youth group and the Western Springs Chapter
of Save Darfur.
A. Schied
Music and dance occupy a large part of Schied’s high school experience as a member of
Madrigals, Varsity Choir, and a dancer in three musicals. She also studies dance and piano outside
of LT. She was named Most Valuable Player of the Eurythmic Dance Company and fall Cheerleading.
Schied also finds time for others as a member of her church youth group, participant in a week-long
work tour in New York, and as a volunteer at Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital.
Z. Stamatelos
As a member of the Recycling Club, Stamatelos spends time each week collecting and sorting
materials for LT. She is also a member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and
earned a silver medal in the cookie decorating competition at the state level last year. She is
also a member of National Spanish Honor Society and a Bronze award winner on the National Spanish
Exam, achieving a score in the 75th percentile.
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