Avondale School District, an achievement-oriented learning community focused on student leadership and success in academics, the arts and athletics, announces Vaseem Khatri, a senior at Avondale High School, has been named a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist. Vaseem is a resident of Rochester Hills and the son of Maksud Khatri and Kishwar Khatri.

According to the National Merit Scholarship Website, the National Merit^® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT^®)–a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. To be considered for a National Merit^® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist. To learn more about the National Merit Scholarship program and qualifications for Semi-Finalists and other categories, please visit http://www.nationalmerit.org.

Avondale School District is a collaborative community of teachers, staff and families working together to assure student success. The district, encompassing portions of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Troy and Rochester Hills, celebrates the richness of a diverse student population and strives to be a model school community that prepares students to be lifelong learners and contributing citizens to the world that awaits them upon graduation. Learn more about Avondale Schools, an AdvancED certified district, at www.avondale.k12.mi.us.