Heights High names four National Merit Scholars
Heights High seniors Melanie Graham and Mary Jane Reinhardt have been named National Merit Scholar Semifinalists in the 2018 competition, and now have the opportunity to advance to the finalist level and qualify for National Merit Scholarships. William Hopkins and Rosalind Madorsky were named 2018 Commended Students, placing among the top 5 percent of the students who entered.
Nationally, 16,000 semifinalists were recognized, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, as were 34,000 commended students. More than 1.6 million students entered the National Merit Scholarship qualifying competition by taking the PSAT test in the fall of their junior year.
Graham is enrolled in Ohio’s College Credit Plus (CCP) and takes physics and English literature at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and statistics at John Carroll University. Her Heights High courses are AP calculus and symphony. She plays violin in the Heights High Symphony and the Cleveland Youth Orchestra, and mellophone in the marching band. “I like being around others who are interested in music,” she said. Graham is also captain of the swim team and a member of the National Honor Society. After graduation she plans to study aerospace or mechanical engineering.
Reinhardt is enjoying Heights High’s AP literature and composition class. “The literary analysis is very high caliber and really interesting,” she said. She is president of the Model UN club, and plays bass drum in the marching band. “The marching band is a great place to have fun and meet friends,” said Reinhardt. She has had lead roles in several school musicals, is part of the theater program and is a member of the National Honor Society. In college, she plans to study political science and journalism, in preparation for law school.
Madorsky especially liked the AP economics class she took last year and enjoyed reading about the connection between the social sciences and economic issues. Part of the CCP program, Madorsky is taking an English class at CWRU, and is a member of the National Honor Society. As a member of the City Club Youth Forum, she helped plan the September affirmative action forum, and is the social action vice president of the Reformed Jewish Youth Movement’s regional board. Madorsky plans to study economics and environmental studies in college.
Hopkins is taking AP calculus, literature and composition, chemistry, and psychology, and participates in symphonic winds and the jazz ensemble. “Music has taught me that if I am persistent and work hard, I can see the results,” said Hopkins. He plays trumpet in both music groups and, in the marching band, he is sergeant of the trumpet section. He is a member of National Honor Society and Heights High’s tennis team, and plans to study computer science in college.
Joy Henderson
Joy Henderson is the parent/community liaison for Heights High.