Update, April 7: Grossman was recently notified that she has become a Merit Scholar designee, receiving a National Merit Scholarship alongside 2,500 other recipients. This award is given on a state representational basis; all 15,000 Finalists competed to receive this scholarship.
“I was excited and surprised to learn I had received a scholarship,” Grossman said. “Because there were so many other Finalists, I had not really expected to be one of the few to win one.
It’s a blessing that although the PSAT seems like it was so long ago, doing well on it is helping me now as I work on preparing for college. It’s been an honor to be a part of such a prestigious program.”
Update, March 11: Grossman recently advanced to National Merit Finalist standing. She will be notified if she has become a Merit Scholar designee, a recipient of a scholarship, any time from the end of March to mid-June.
After completing the PSAT/NMSQT exam last fall, senior Elizabeth Grossman scored high enough to be recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) awards scholarships to students who score in the top percentile on this test. The scholarship is based on students’ PSAT scores from their junior year.
Last fall, about 1.5 million juniors took the test nationwide and only 50,000 were chosen to contend for the scholarship. From this number, 16,000 qualify as semifinalists. Grossman is in a group which represents less than 1 percent of high school students in California.
Once students become semifinalists, they fill out an application and write a personal statement. Their high school also completes multiple forms, including a letter of recommendation.
Although Grossman has been nationally recognized, her teachers also notice her work ethic.
“Elizabeth is a very intelligent individual,” academic adviser Molly Sargent said. “She has shown remarkable achievement both in mathematics and the sciences as well as in the humanities, with special talent in writing, both in the classroom and for our school’s online newspaper.”
Outside of school, Grossman spends her time as a varsity cheerleader for the competition and game squad teams, serves as the vice president of both the Spanish Club and Student Leadership, edits the hard copy of The Feather, and sings in ensemble. Last year, Grossman won a gold medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for the print edition of The Feather.
Grossman also makes time to serve as the vice president of the campus California Scholarship Federation (CSF) chapter, a service organization for California high school students.
“As an officer, Elizabeth quietly but efficiently works behind the scenes for our service projects,” Sargent said. “She also has the ability to direct with authority but also with gentleness.”
Scholarships offered by the NMSC are not widely broadcast and often remain unknown to most students. Before the PSAT begins, Sargent briefly informs the students of the scholarship possibilities and encourages all juniors to do their best on the exam.
“I wanted to take the PSAT in order to prepare for the SAT in the spring, but then I was recognized as a candidate for the scholarship,” Grossman said. “I was surprised that I was a semifinalist. I knew my scores were high, but I was not sure they were high enough to get me to the next round. I am overjoyed; I have been waiting since April to find out.”
Students who take the PSAT in both their sophomore and junior years may have a greater opportunity of qualifying for the scholarships due to increased practice and familiarity with the test. Grossman encourages other students to do their best while taking the PSAT.
“My advice for anyone interested in earning a scholarship is to take the PSAT more than once,” Grossman said. “Prepare before taking the PSAT your junior year by at least studying the PSAT practice booklet. You will increase your chances of qualifying for the award. If you score high, stay involved in school and extracurriculars, and study hard for the SAT. ”
Grossman says her family was delighted to hear of her accomplishment.
“[My family] was very excited for me, probably more excited then I was,” Grossman said. “I think they grasped the magnitude of the award more than I did at first.”
Grossman’s mother, Lori, said she is “overjoyed” with her daughter’s recognition.
“When Sargent informed me of the news, I had no idea what the National Merit Scholarship was,” Lori said. “I am very pleased for Elizabeth that she is receiving national recognition for her academic work and very humbled knowing God is at work in her. This scholarship has opened many doors for Elizabeth in her pursuit of college selection. Elizabeth has an exciting future ahead of her.”
Casey Belmont, ’02, is the only other student from Fresno Christian who has received this recognition. He was also a semifinalist, but he did not make it further in the competition.
In California 2,070 students from 421 high schools were chosen as semifinalists. California’s qualifying score to become a semifinalist was 218, but Grossman exceeded the score for any state.
In both Fresno and Clovis Counties, only seven students are semifinalists, with Grossman as the only student from a private school.
“This is a great opportunity for our school’s name to be recognized nationally,” Grossman said. “It’s an honor to be able to represent FCS on such a grand stage. The fact that a student from a small school can perform as well in a competition as those from big public schools just speaks well of our school.”
The semifinalists will learn in the spring of 2010 if they are finalists. For more information, e-mail Sargent.
