The Manhasset Public Schools is proud to announce that eight seniors from Manhasset Secondary School were named finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Kyra Balacek, Kristen DiConza, Jack Diskin, Mitchell Jung, Ericka Lai, Ava Malysa, Benjamin Punzalan and Moer Zhou are among 15,000 students to earn the finalist title. They will continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million.

The eight Manhasset seniors were recognized in the fall as semifinalists in the program based on their high scores on the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. To meet the finalist standing, they each had to submit a detailed scholarship application which included their academic record. The students will find out this spring if they are presented with a National Merit Scholarship Award.