Eight Benet Academy students named National Merit Semifinalists

Benet Academy in Lisle announced that eight students from the Class of 2024 were named semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.

• Michael Budd of Naperville and All Saints Catholic Academy in Naperville

• Mina Chang of Naperville and Saints Peter and Paul School in Naperville

• Kailey Frangella of Downers Grove and Lakeview Junior High School in Downers Grove

• Michael Frieri of Lockport and Quest Academy in Palatine

• Sophia Gastolek of Lisle and Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove

• Kathleen Grubish of LaGrange and Park Junior High

• David Haroldsen of Aurora and DuPage Montessori

• Aarav Julka of Oak Brook and Butler Junior High School in Oak Brook

Semifinalists are chosen by their high scores on the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualify Test and represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. These academically talented students will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards worth $30 million that will be offered next spring.

Congratulations to these students on their outstanding achievement.

Benet Academy, founded in 1887, is an independent Catholic, college preparatory high school in the Benedictine tradition. Its mission is to provide a disciplined educational environment that fosters the on-going religious, intellectual and social development of its students. Visit www.benet.org.