VERO BEACH — Kyle Aldrich and Paul Colella, both of Vero Beach, and Ethan Klein of Port Saint Lucie have been selected by the National Merit Scholarship Program as Semifinalists. The three seniors from Saint Edward’s School’s class of 2012 are now eligible to become National Merit Scholars.
Nationwide 16,000 Semifinalists have been selected in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The Program recognizes students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
The index used to qualify students for the National Merit Program is based upon the 2010 Preliminary SAT Test (PSAT) and students who quality represent the 99th percentile or above of U.S. high school seniors. These three students are among the highest scoring seniors in the State
of Florida. Of the three who qualified from Saint Edward’s, one student scored two perfect scores in math and writing out of the three sections covering critical reading, math and writing and a second student scored a perfect score on the math section.
In preparation for the college entrance exam taken by every student at Saint Edward’s, these three Semifinalists have completed demanding courses of study during their years at Saint Edward’s School. Together they have completed 26 Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Kyle Aldrich has earned the title AP Scholar and is a member of the National Honor Society. He has spent time in the summer studying engineering and astronomy at Cornell University, is active in the Saint Edward’s Theatre and Choir programs and plays Varsity Soccer and Varsity
Lacrosse. He Co-Captained the Saint Edward’s Swim Team and is a member of the Varsity Cross Country team.
Paul Colella has earned the designation AP Scholar with Distinction. Paul is a member of the Cum Laude Society, the National Science Honor Society and the Saint Edward’s Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS). Paul was a member of the JETS team which placed 1st in the State and 3rd in the Country in their division. Paul plays the marimba and Varsity Lacrosse and Varsity Soccer.
Ethan Klein has earned the designation AP Scholar with Distinction. Ethan is a member of the Cum Laude Society, the National Honor Society, the Junior Engineering Technical Society and Mu Alpha Theta where he placed first in Precalculus from this region at States. Ethan has held
major roles in nine plays at Saint Edward’s School. He is a member of the International Thespian Society and serves as Treasurer for the Saint Edward’s chapter.
Ethan is a member of the Advanced Studies Program (ASP) at Saint Edward’s, a rigorous program of study designed to provide gifted and/or highly motivated students with the requisite tools and knowledge necessary for admission to and success at the most selective colleges and universities.
At Saint Edward’s Upper School, a student who wishes to earn the specially designated ASP Scholars diploma is required to take a minimum of 6 AP courses during his/her high school career, and to achieve a 3 or above on the national exam in each AP course taken in grades 9-11.
Additionally, the student takes honors level courses in all other subjects where such levels are available and appropriate, maintaining a minimum 3.5 overall weighted GPA each semester. Finally, at the end of senior year the student completes and presents a special project to an academic panel. A student who completes these requirements successfully is granted an ASP Scholar diploma with special recognition at graduation.
For more information about Saint Edward’s School and the ASP program and its requirements contact Terence Mitchell, director of the program, at 772-492-2220 or tmitchell@steds.org