FAU High School Students Names National Merit Finalists
Monday, Mar 02, 2026
We are incredibly proud to announce that 20 seniors from Florida Atlantic University High School have advanced to Finalist standing in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Program!
Earning the National Merit Scholarship Finalist designation is no small feat. Students first qualify through exceptional performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, placing among the highest scorers in their state. From there, Semifinalists must submit a comprehensive application that includes a strong academic record, an endorsement and recommendation from their school, a detailed record of leadership and extracurricular involvement, a personal essay, and confirmation of high SAT or ACT scores. Fewer than 1% of U.S. high school seniors reach this level of distinction.
Please join us in celebrating these remarkable scholars:
- Alexander Zentefis
- Baron Schaeffer (not pictured)
- Danila Gurin (not pictured)
- Danilo Carmon
- Danylo Fedkiv
- Dataar Sibia
- Ekansh Puri
- Emily Diaz-Silva
- Frederick Lourenso
- Gabriel Goldenberg
- Joshua Lerner
- Kaylie Niejadlik
- Lucas Deese
- Matthew Sirkin
- Nicole Demaras
- Rishi Chhibber
- Serena Amro Gazze
- Shyla Grant
- Sydney Kessler
- Zarah Naveed
This achievement reflects years of dedication, intellectual curiosity, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence. We are beyond proud of how these students represent our school community, not only through academic success, but through leadership and character.
The future is bright, and these 20 scholars are helping lead the way.