TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River High School East student was honored Wednesday night for being named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.
Michael J. Pavao received a commendation at the Toms River Regional Board of Education meeting honoring his achievement.
Pavao was among more than 1.3 million high school juniors who took the PSAT in 2024, the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship program. He was among 16,000 students named semifinalists, including nearly 500 in New Jersey.
Of the 16,000 semifinalists, more than 6,800 will receive scholarships through the program, according to the National Merit Scholarship program.
The program will be announcing the scholarship winners beginning April 23.
Pavao is headed to Alabama University and plans to study mechanical engineering, High School East Principal Erin Anders said at the board meeting.
The National Merit Scholarship Corp., a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The 2025 program is the 70th edition.
Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 280 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
To become a finalist, the semifinalists and a high school official 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 or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
From over 16,000 semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist
level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship
winners will be selected from this group of finalists.
Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
