National Merit Announces $2,500 Scholarship Winners
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National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced this year’s National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners. Five students from Scarsdale High School and two from Edgemont High School were among the 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.
These scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.
Here are the local winners:
Scarsdale High School
Hana Coulson: Probable career: Theater
Joyce Liu: Probable career: Education
Anish Mehta: Probable career: Medicine
Mateo Sebastian Polak: Undecided
Alina Yang: Probable career: Medicine
Edgemont High School
Siddanth Karthik: Probable career: Biotechnology
Lauren Jhon Lee: Probable career: Public Heath
National Merit $2500 Scholarship Winners
NMSC finances most of these single-payment National Merit $2500 Scholarships. Corporations and company foundations that sponsor awards through NMSC help underwrite these scholarships with grants they provide in lieu of paying administrative fees. Donations made to NMSC’s President’s Fund also provide funding for some National Merit $2500 Scholarship awards. Scholars may use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
2026 National Merit Scholarship Competition
This year’s National Merit Scholarship Program began in October 2024 when high school juniors took the PSAT/NMSQT, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. Last fall, the highest-scoring participants in each state, representing less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors, were named Semifinalists on a state-representational basis. More than 16,000 Semifinalists had an opportunity to continue in the competition.
From the Semifinalist group, over 15,000 students met the very high academic standards and other requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. By the conclusion of the 2026 program, about 6,700 Finalists will have earned the “Merit Scholar” title and received a total of nearly $24 million in college scholarships.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was founded in 1955 specifically to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. The majority of scholarships offered each year are underwritten by approximately 300 independent corporate and college sponsors that share NMSC’s goals of honoring scholastically talented youth and encouraging academic excellence at all levels of education.
Raiders Flag Football Team Falls to Mamaroneck on Senior Night
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Senior Stella Van Arsdale pulling a flag.On Wednesday night, the Scarsdale Raiders took on the Mamaroneck Tigers at Butler Field. These two teams had played each other a week before in a close game, ending in a Scarsdale win. This game was Scarsdale’s senior night, so they had determination to win, but Mamaroneck also wanted to get payback for last week’s game.
Senior Gia Asen running with the ball.Mamaroneck won the coin toss and started with the ball, so Scarsdale had to play defense. Scarsdale was able to force them to a fourth down and Mammo was forced to punt it on their first possession. Once Scarsdale received the punt, they attempted to push the ball up the field, but were stopped. They were also forced to punt the ball. Like the first possession, Mammo was stopped, and Scarsdale had the ball back. But as Scarsdale went to throw the ball, a Mamaroneck defender intercepted the pass. Mamaroneck was able to run it to the endzone, and as she was about to step into the endzone, a Scarsdale player pulled her flag, but it was still counted as a touchdown. After the touchdown, Scarsdale succeeded in stopping the extra point. And with a minute and 25 seconds left in the first quarter, Scarsdale was unable to get a touchdown.
The second quarter started out much like the beginning of the first. Scarsdale couldn’t score on their first two possessions, but then Mamaroneck was able to score a touchdown. Scarsdale got the ball back, but was unable to get very far downfield. Mamaroneck then proceeded to get another touchdown, but with a controversial call from the ref. As the player from Mamaroneck caught the ball, she was out of bounds, but the refs still called it a touchdown. After the touchdown, Scarsdale was able to defend Mammo from scoring an extra point.
At the start of the third quarter, Scarsdale got the ball back, and they were finally able to get downfield. Scarsdale was then able to score a touchdown, by sophomore Reese Newman running it in. Scarsdale was unable to get the extra point, and Mamaroneck ended the third up 18-6.
Junior Reese Newman running the ball.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Scarsdale was able to get a good run down the field, but was unfortunately unable to score a touchdown. It went back and forth for a while between Scarsdale and Mamaroneck going down and back. Eventually, with two and a half minutes left, Mamaroneck scored their last touchdown, but no extra point. After this, Scarsdale decided to put all the seniors in, and it was some of their best defense they played all game. As the game came to a close, senior Lexie Litofsky got an interception. The final score of the game was 24-6 and Mamaroneck is the second team this season to beat Scarsdale.
Freshman Jordana Esterman throwing the ball.
Scarsdale Varsity Baseball Team Moves to Second Place After Win Over Mamaroneck
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- Written by: Dave Taber
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The Scarsdale bench erupts in celebration after the Raiders push across their first run of the game.The Scarsdale High School Varsity Baseball Team traveled to Mamaroneck High School on Thursday, April 24th. The game was a tight pitchers' duel through 6 innings and the Raiders then exploded for 7 runs in the top of the 7th and left with an 8-4 victory. Starting pitcher Kojiro Hirata was at the center of the rally, diving headfirst to score the go-ahead run, and Finn Pearson capped the inning with a bases-loaded double.
Alejandro Azpiazu-Cabassa (#18) hauls in a catch in right field.
The win moves Scarsdale to 10–2 on the season, good for second place in the AAA division of Section 1. The Raiders will look to keep the momentum going with an away game at White Plains on Monday, April 27th.
Max Gashalter (#10) tags out a runner at third base as Kojiro Hirata (#6) backs up the throw.
PHOTOS
Photos by Dave Taber of Shots of the Game. To see more game photos and/or download photos, please visit https://www.shotsofthegame.com/
Kojiro Hirata (#6) delivers a pitch to the plate.
Noah Kent (#12) makes a sliding catch in right field.
Bret Hole (#2) settles under a fly ball for an easy catch in center field.
Finn Pearson (#4) tries to throw out a runner while Matthew Zoland (#1) watches.
Finn Pearson (#4) leaps to catch a soft liner.
Kojiro Hirata (#6) dives for the plate to score the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh.
Kojiro Hirata (#6) and Aidan Dunsky (#34) celebrate as the Raiders take the lead.
Finn Pearson (#4) pumps his fist after his bases-loaded double.
Nathan Ulrich (#15) delivers a pitch in relief.
Local Leaders Comment on Antisemitism at SHS
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Here is a comment from Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest on last week's incident at Scarsdale High School and the community response:
"My job as mayor is to ensure that every resident of Scarsdale feels safe and welcome, and that responsibility does not stop at the schoolhouse door.
I am deeply concerned by this incident and have been in active communication with school leadership and working closely with our police department. I am committed to ensuring that this incident, and any other instances of antisemitism in our schools, receive the serious attention they deserve.
The response to this incident must be clear and unequivocal. Whatever the intent, there is no context that mitigates an act of hatred, and our institutions should say so without qualification. This is not a time for task forces or committees. This is a time for rooting out antisemitism.
Superintendent Patrick and I have a strong and collaborative relationship, and I am confident that he will examine these issues closely and respond with meaningful action. I will be monitoring progress closely and expect that the community will be kept informed every step of the way.
I also want to say a word about where I believe our community's energy should be directed. In my experience, Mr. Dugan and his wife have been good people, inclusive and community-minded, and I do not believe anyone is served by losing sight of that. Our focus should remain on ensuring that our institutions respond firmly, clearly, and in a way that restores trust.
Hate has no place in Scarsdale. Antisemitism has no place in our schools. We must meet this moment with clarity, resolve, and real action for our students and for our community."
State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin had this to say: “As a long-term resident of Scarsdale, I moved here intentionally to find a community that embraces andsupports my identity as a Jewish woman raising a Jewish family. I've always believed that this is a place where diversity is celebrated and where we can feel proud of who we are—a place where I can wear my Star of David without fear.
The students affected by the incident at the High School will remember this experience for the rest of their lives. It could have been a frightening experience for them, especially knowing that some of their peers do not accept who they are. It is up to us as a community to ensure that this is not a time of division, but a moment for everyone to come together to educate and support one another.”
Recycling Tip of the Week: Cartons Go in COMMINGLED Recycling (NOT with Paper)
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Beverage and liquid food cartons like milk and soup cartons as well as juice boxes and ice cream containers should be placed in commingled recycling, NOT in paper recycling. In order to be leak-proof, these containers are lined with a plastic film. During the recycling process, the plastic lining is separated from the paper fiber which can then be recycled into new paper products, including tissues, paper towels and office paper. The plastic that is collected is also recycled into such products as pallets, tiles and crates. Another carton recycling option that is gaining momentum converts the whole carton into construction materials.
