Locust Valley Central School District

Locust valley senior Katherine Gu was announced as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist on September 14. Gu is one of 16,000 students from across the country to continue in the competition for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a merit scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist level, and approximately half of the finalists will win a scholarship, earning the merit scholar title.

To become a finalist, Gu and other semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

Gu writes for the school newspaper The Spectrum, participates in the Mock Trial Global Students Society clubs, plays the violin, piano, and saxophone in the orchestra and even founded the Asian Achievement and Culture Club during her junior year.

“I’m proud of it because my culture is important to me and last year for lunar new year we were able to decorate the school,” Gu said. “It was nice to be able to do that and you feel good about what you can do in the school community.”
Gu has not chosen a college yet but hopes to continue developing her writing and musical skills in the fall.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2023 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join nearly 368,000 other Merit Scholars.