“I feel pretty honored to have this opportunity,” he said.
Last year, 1.5 million now-seniors across the country entered the 2021 competition by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, the release stated. Of those students, 16,000 were selected as semi-finalists.
“Without the help of my teachers, I would not have done as well on the test,” Narcelles said.
Narcelles, who maintains a 4.73 GPA, is one of 15,000 finalists.
“I’m very proud of him, but he’s always been really gifted. So, it doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s always been a good student,” his mother, Trescia, said.
Narcelles is now competing to earn one of 7,600 awards to be used towards college that are worth over $30 million in total. Those winners will be announced in the spring.
To become a finalist, Narcelles had to submit a scholarship application that included information about his academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received, the release stated.
Narcelles is also on the high school swim team and recently set a new Springfield High School record by placing fifth at the OHSAA D1 Boys District Tournament Swim Meet in the 200M individual medley and fifth in the 100M breaststroke, the release stated. He will advance to the State Championship this weekend.
“I have been swimming for 14 years. It’s been hand-in-hand with swimming and school all my life,” he said.
After graduation, Narcelles will attend a four-year university where he plans to swim and major in pre-medicine.
“We are all rooting for him as he continues in the National Merit Scholarship and State swimming competition,” the district said in the release.
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