One thing the seven Herricks High School National Merit Scholarships finalists have in common is the surprise they felt when they were named as finalists.
“To be honest, I was kind of surprised. I didn’t know how the process worked. It was pretty exciting,” said Herricks senior Bernadette Haig.
“I was pretty shocked about it,” said senior Ankoor Talwar.
Another is their academic excellence.
But after that the seven National Merit Scholarships finalists show a wide range of academic and extracurricular interests.
Haig is president of the Herricks Robotics Team, and has been a team member since her freshman year.
“That’s definitely one of my bigger commitments,” she said.
Haig also volunteers at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Uniondale, where she answers visitor questions. She said the best part of that experience has been encountering people who have worked in the aeronautical or aerospace industries, designing World War II fighter planes or lunar modules.
Haig is attending Columbia University’s science honors program, a Saturday class for outstanding science scholars, and said she plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Talwar was also one of three Herricks High School seniors who earned recognition as semifinalists in the annual Intel Science Talent Search in January.
William Chung, also one of the Intel semifinalists, was among the Herricks students who attained the National Merit finalist recognition and the $2,500 scholarship award that goes with it.
In addition to their scientific achievements, both are members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Talwar plays percussion in the Herricks Wind Ensemble and Chung plays alto saxophone in the wind ensemble and the school Jazz Band.
“It’s a large surprise. But it was an honor,” said Chung, who is also captain of the varsity volleyball team, vice president of the Herricks Model U.N. Club and a member of the Herricks Asian-American Culture Club.
Both Talwar and Chung are considering college studies in the science research field.
Esther Chen, who is salutatorian for the Herricks class of 2013, said she and her classmates weren’t aiming to achieve National Merit finalist status.
“I don’t think we had the intention of going for the National Merit. But it’s nice to see your hard work pay off,” Chen said.
Achieving National Merit finalist status is a two-step process with students taking PSAT tests in their junior years to qualify as national merit semifinalists. If they make the cut on those test scores, they submit essays in the fall of their senior years along with teachers’ letters of recommendation to compete as finalists.
Chen is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society and is an accomplished violinist who plays in the Herricks Chamber Orchestra and was an alternate for the New York All-State Orchestra this year.
“It takes a lot of motivation and dedication,” she said of playing the violin. “It takes overcoming obstacles that are difficult to overcome and that shows character.”
Chen is also participating in the Columbia University’s science honors program and said she is considering a career in the sciences, possibly as a doctor.
Chen and fellow National Merit finalist Rifath Rashid are also involved in the school district’s Students Mentoring Young Learners, mentoring elementary school students.
“You get to relate to your past. I was stressed out with homework. I like helping them,” Rashid said.
Rashid is also sports editor the Herricks Highlander school newspaper a member of the Historical Research Club and president for the Muslim Students Association.
“I believe in a God of order, not necessarily of religion,” he said. “Since you see so much order in the universe, I believe there has to be a God of order.”
Amen Wiqas mentors students from elementary grades to high school at Top Tutors, a tutoring center in New Hyde Park. She said she mentors there five hours a week during the school year and at a summer camp the tutoring center runs as well.
Apart from her academic studies, she said she has little time for activities in school because she looks after her younger sister after school.
“In my culture, the eldest daughter is supposed to be like a second mother, so she’s a huge responsibility for me. She’s taught me a lot about myself and she’s made me a better person,” Wiqas said.
She said she’s considering a college major in biology, biochemistry, or biological anthropology with a minor in women’s and gender studies.
Justin Hsuan described himself as a “Renaissance man,” a poet with a strong interest in politics and was the most definite among his national merit peers about his career aspirations.
“In 2048, Justin Hsuan will the Republican nominee for president,” he said.
He said he had rethought his prior aspiration to become the host of “The Tonight Show”.
Hsuan is a active in Model U.N. and Model Congress. He is also captain of the Mathletes team and has competed in the Science Olympiads.
Apart from politics, he said he’s interested in physics.
“I think one of my best attributes is my curiosity,” Hsuan said.
