Bay has 11 students recognized in National Merit Scholarship Program

Thomas Beckwith

The Bay Village City School District announced that 11 students have been recognized in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual academic competition for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships.

Thomas Beckwith, James Bish and Samuel Ferry have been named Semifinalists. Abigail Donahue, Ryan Duffy, Anya Krumbine, Cooper Lyons, Molly Mullahy, Kayla Poling, Emma Spirollari and Kendall Thomas are recognized as Commended Students. All are seniors at Bay High School.

These students were identified based on their Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores.

Here are the 2021 Bay High School students that are recognized:

National Merit Semi-Finalists

Thomas Beckwith is interested in attending Northwestern University and Purdue University. He plans to study chemical engineering with a possible minor in music composition. His extracurricular activities and interests include Boy Scouts, playing piano, Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Honors Quintet and Robotics.

James Bish is hoping to attend Case Western Reserve University, Cornell University or Carnegie Mellon University to study computer science. He is involved in Marching Band, Science Club, the Robotics Team, Tech Club and National Honor Society.

Samuel Ferry has applied to several colleges and universities, including Princeton University, Oberlin College and The Ohio State University. He is undecided regarding his course of study. While at Bay High School, Sam is involved in Marching Band and National Honor Society.

Commended Students

Abigail Donahue plans to major in physics and minor in English at a to-be-determined college, and then attend law school to pursue a career as a patent attorney. She is involved in many extracurricular activities, including several clubs and Swim Team (captain), and she plays the alto saxophone in the Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Marching Band. Outside of school, Abigail works as a lifeguard and has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. 

Ryan Duffy is hoping to attend Purdue University, University of Notre Dame, University of Michigan, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University or The Ohio State University to study mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering. Outside of school, he is involved with Marching Band on the Drumline, Cross Country, an Appalachian Service Project and has attained Eagle Scout status. Ryan also enjoys classic car restoration as a hobby and side business.

Anya Krumbine hopes to attend San Jose State University, Savannah College of Art & Design or Rochester Institute of Technology upon graduation to study animation and digital arts. She has been involved with Key Club, National Honor Society, Marching Band, Pit Orchestra, Thespians and Chamber Orchestra at Bay High School, and Girl Scouts, Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony and John Knox Presbyterian Youth Group outside of school. 

Cooper Lyons is looking to attend either Case Western Reserve University, Washington University in St. Louis, The Ohio State University or Babson College. He plans to pursue a business management or finance degree with a focus in entrepreneurship. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he plans to pursue an MBA. Outside of class, he is a captain of the basketball team, a member of National Honor Society, a class officer and a Student of the Year candidate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

Molly Mullahy is looking to attend one of these institutions: University of Notre Dame, Northeastern University, Boston College, Northwestern University, Dartmouth College, Middlebury College, or The Ohio State University. She plans to pursue architecture, mathematics, business or pre-law. At Bay High School, she is on the tennis and lacrosse teams, and she participates in the Walk MS fundraiser for multiple sclerosis. 

Kayla Poling is hoping to attend Case Western Reserve University, The Ohio State University or Cleveland State University. She wants to study general chemistry, and specialize in biochemistry or materials science. Kayla is President of Bay High School's Sexuality and Gender Alliance, and works in set construction and stage management as a Bay High Thespian.

Emma Spirollari is looking to attend Stanford University, University of California Santa Barbara or Northeastern University after graduation to follow a pre-med track with a minor in French. At Bay High School, she is involved as a class officer, Project Earth club, volleyball and tutoring. 

Kendall Thomas is interested in Boston College, Loyola University Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University and Miami University, and she plans to study communications or English. Outside of academics, Kendall is involved in Marching Band, Orchestra, the Tennis Team, Key Club, National Honor Society and Girl Scouts.

Of the 1.5 million students who took the 2019 PSAT/NMSQT, only 16,000 earn Semifinalist status, putting the three Bay Village students in the top 1% of students nationwide. Beckwith, Bish and Ferry must submit an application to be named a finalist and continue on in the National Merit Scholarship competition. About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level, and more than half of those finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

"We are so proud of these 11 students and all that they have accomplished their last four years,” said Bay High School Principal Jason Martin.

"What an amazing honor for these 11 young men and women,” said Bay Schools Superintendent Jodie Hausmann. “They are not only leaders in the classroom, but also within our community.”

Students who achieve finalist status will compete for more than $31 million in scholarship awards. The 2021 National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.

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Volume 12, Issue 19, Posted 9:50 AM, 10.06.2020