Klawitter Named National Merit Finalist

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national graduating seniors.

From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

We caught up with Andrew to learn more about his preparation for the PSAT and his Holy Family experience:

Middle School: St. Joseph Catholic School
Activities you are involved in at HF: Quiz Bowl, Math League, Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl, Concert Band
Volunteer Experience: Waconia Food Shelf, Feed My Starving Children

How did you prepare for the PSAT?
Having already taken the PreACT and ACT before taking the PSAT, I had some idea of what to expect. Before taking the test, I practiced sample PSAT questions, which helped further familiarize me with the exam format.

You are also an AP student. Rigorous academic course loads can be stressful; how do you deal with that stress, and what advice do you have for students going through similar situations?
There will always be some level of stress in taking AP courses, but I find it helpful to plan ahead on larger projects and assignments when I can do so.

What makes you most proud about being a National Merit Semifinalist?
I am proud of the honor of being a National Merit Semifinalist, as I believe it represents the work I have put into my education.

What will you miss the most after you graduate from HF?
I will miss the great teachers and the sense of community that Holy Family has.