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Keystone Oaks Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists
Keystone Oaks High School seniors Benjamin Hommrich and Joseph Hommrich were named 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program semi-finalists. A third senior, Riley Knavish, was named a commended student by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

The Hommrichs were two of the 16,000 high school seniors named scholarship semifinalists. Nationwide, semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and their ranks include the highest-scoring entrants in each state. National Merit Scholarship semifinalists account for one-third of the exam’s 50,000 high scorers.

Knavish was one of nearly 34,000 high scorers to receive a Letter of Commendation in recognition of her outstanding academic promise.

Throughout his high school career, Ben Hommrich has been active in Student Senate, Math Club, Academic Team, and French Club. He is the Assistant Drumline Section Leader in the Keystone Oaks Marching Band and is a Lighting Manager for the High School Musical Stage Crew in addition to being named an AP Scholar with Honors. In his free time, Ben is active with the Boy Scouts and has earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Joe Hommich has been active in French Club, National Honor Society, and Student Senate. He has had a lead role in the high school musical for the past two years and is the Alt Sax Section Leader for the Keystone Oaks Marching Band. Joe was accepted to participate in the Westinghouse Science Honors Institute and is also active with the Boy Scouts, earning the position of Junior Assistant Scout Master.

Throughout high school, Riley Knavish has been active in Math and Spanish Clubs, Student Senate and Peer Jury. She is a Colorguard in the Keystone Oaks Marching Band and is also an active volunteer in the community, earning nearly 250 hours of community service.

The National Merit program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – a test which serves as an initial screening of approximately 1.5 million juniors in 22,000 high schools each year – and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.