Falcon Pride Bursting With a Blue Ribbon and Merit Scholar Semifinalists

Falcon pride is soaring over at (SPHS) where there are now a pair of blue ribbons, one Maryland and the recently bestowed National Blue Ribbon, one of only two awarded to county high schools by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Two criteria are used when determining a National Blue Ribbon School: the ability of schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds to dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests; or schools whose students, regardless of background, rank among their state’s highest performing schools on state assessments, according to the AACPS website.

SPHS Principal Patrick Bathras sent a home to families on Monday praising the students, teachers, parents and community for their involvement and dedication to the school. SPHS is one of 304 high schools across the nation to be named a National Blue Ribbon School.

SPHS joins Benfield, Bodkin, Broadneck, Folger McKinsey, Jones, Mayo, Oak Hill, and West Annapolis elementary schools, Severna Park Middle School, and Southern High School in earning the National Blue Ribbon distinction.

Adding to the excitement are two SPHS students named National Merit Scholars semifinalists, Chris Euerle and Michaela Cunningham.

The two were among 13 students from five Anne Arundel County public high schools, and selected from 1.5 million juniors from 22,000 high schools across the country, for the 2011 National Merit Scholarship competition, according to a press release from Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS).

All were were top scorers on the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Michaela is not only an outstanding student, she also swims and helps coach the Shipley's Choice Swim Team, swims for the SPY national swim team, is a member of the National Honor Society and the SPHS Math Team. She's also a Red Cross volunteer at the Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Fort George G. Meade.

"It's really satisfying to know that hard work pays off. It's a huge honor to be recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and I'm incredibly happy to advance in the competition," Michaela said.  

Chris has a GPA of 4.49 and is honored to be recognized as a semifinalist. He's a new member of the school's It's Academic team and is also in the National Honor Society. Chris has his sights set high when it comes to college, he's looking at his options to include the University of Maryland, Duke, UNC, Harvard, MIT and Johns Hopkins University.

About 90 percent of the semifinalists will advance to finalist status based on academic record, recommendation by the school principal, SAT performance, and participation and leadership in school and community activities, according to the press release.

Each finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarships worth $2,500 each that will be awarded on a state representational basis, according to the press release.

About 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

Severna Park High School will be honored by Secretary Duncan at an awards conference in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14 and 15.

A complete list of National Blue Ribbon Schools can be found at www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.