The following Parkland High School students were selected as semifinalists in The National Merit® Scholarship Program and have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,600 Merit Scholarship awards worth $33 million.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition that recognizes the 50,000 highest Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) scores in the nation out of approximately 1.5 million students who take the test each year.

Of the 1.5 million entrants, approximately 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program as either commended students (about 34,000) or semifinalists (highest 16,000).

Suchir Agarwal: Orchestra Concertmaster, Honors Orchestra, All-State Orchestra, Co-Captain of the Chess Team, and Co-President of the Chess Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Science Fair, the Math, Spanish, Tri-M Music, and National Honors Societies. He plans to major in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University.

Taran Anantasagar: Parkland STEMM, Environment Club, Physics Club, Science Fair, FBLA, National, Math, English, Science and Spanish Honor Societies, Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist, National AP Scholar. He plans to pursue computer or earth science in college.

Pranav Balabhadra: Chess team Co-Captain, STEMM Club Co-Vice President, History Day, Science Fair, Science Olympiad, National Honor Society, FBLA, Volleyball Team, Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist. He plans to pursue a career in bioengineering.

Meaghan Crites: Robotics (Engineering) Club, Science Olympiad, French, Math, English, and National Honor Societies. She plans to major in engineering.

Stephanie Dean: Reading Olympics Team Captain, National, Math, English, and German Honor Societies, Ski Club, Math League and Architecture Club. She intends to major in Civil or Chemical Engineering.

Alexander Gannon: Parkland Gay Straight Alliance Vice President, National, Art, Science, French Honor Societies. He may pursue political science at Temple University.

Udit Garg: Club Med President, UNICEF Club Co-President, Entrepreneurship Club Co-President, Varsity Golf Team, FBLA, Science Fair, Physics Club, Math, Science, and National Honor Societies, National AP Scholar with Distinction, Congressional App Challenge Ambassador, Parkinson’s Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation. In college, he plans to major in biomedical engineering.

Rahul Inanganti: Conservation Club President, Scholastic Scrimmage President/Captain, Debate Team Captain, Political Science Club Vice President, Boy Scout Senior Patrol Leader, Springhouse Science Olympiad Team Coach, Science Olympiad, Science Fair, History Day, FBLA, and Health Occupations Students of America, Broadcom Master’s Science Fair Top 300, 2020 Ivy League Model United Nations Best Delegate. He plans to major in biology and become a pediatrician.

Prathysha Kothare: Debate Team Captain, Science Fair Vice President, Women in STEMM Secretary, FBLA, Spanish, Math, English, and National Honors Societies, PHS STEP Team, MIT Research Science Institute 2020 Biochemistry Award, International Science and Engineering Fair Biomedical Engineering Award, 2020 Women Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, 2020 INSPOScience Gold Medal, NPR/WDIY radio show host, book author of “Crooked: An Anthology.” She plans on focusing on chemical engineering and entrepreneurship.

Ankit Lenka: Tennis Team Captain, Lehigh Valley Music Teacher’s Association Piano Award, Congresswoman Susan Wild Re-election Campaign Intern, AP Honors Scholar, Meals on Wheels Volunteer, Junior Tennis Instructor, United States Tennis Association Middle States Junior Tennis Tournament Qualifier. He is interested in pursuing video game design and/or political science.

Akshatha Manjunatha: Math League Co-Vice President, National History Day, Science Fair, National, English, Math, Spanish Honor Societies, FBLA, Delaware Valley Science Fair First Place, FBLA Nationals Awards, National History Day Outstanding Entry, WEST Pharmaceutical High School Award, Dow Chemical Company Award, American Chemical Society Award and Parental Drug Association Award. She plans to major in biochemistry or neuroscience.

Ankhitha Manjunatha: Debate Team Captain, Math League Co-President, FBLA Vice President, National, Math, English, Spanish Honor Societies, National History Day, Science Fair, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist, Delaware Valley Science Fair First Place Physics Award, FBLA National Awards, National History Day Outstanding Entry, National AP Scholar. She is interested in pursuing engineering and physics.

Krishna Narramneni: Club Med Secretary, National, English and Spanish Honor Societies, FBLA, History Day and Science Fair, AP Scholar with Distinction, President’s Volunteer Service 2X Award. He plans on becoming a doctor and is interested in attending the University of Pittsburgh.

Samuel Oxfeld: Entrepreneurship Club Founder and President, Investing Club President, Mock Trial Club President, Varsity Tennis, FBLA, Political Science, Math Internship, Jewish Culture Club, AP Scholar with Distinction, FBLA Entrepreneurship State Competition First Place Award, National Honor Society. He plans to major in economics.

Janam Patel: Entrepreneurship Club Treasurer, Student Council Co-President, Club Med, UNICEF, ALCC, FBLA and Science Fair, Math, Spanish and National Honor Societies. He is interested in attending Boston University for premedical studies.

Srijan Sharma: Math League Secretary, Scholastic Scrimmage Vice President, TedEd Club Officer, FBLA, Science Olympiad, EPC Scholastic Scrimmage 2020 Award, National Honor Society, Northern PA History Bowl Champion 2020. He’d like to study data science.

Alexander Tang: Math League President, Tri-M Officer, PA Sinfonia Youth Orchestra Clarinet Section Leader, Region V Orchestra and Band, District 10 Orchestra, Band and Chorus, All-State Wind Ensemble, National Honor, Math and English Societies, National AP Scholar, Friends of Music Outstanding Young Artist 2x Award. He intends to major in mathematical economics.