Five students from Manhasset High School have been selected as Semifinalists in the prestigious 2005 Merit Scholarship Competition, according to officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Manhasset students Katherine B. Aitken; Nicholas T. Calluzzo; Adam D. Fishman; Nikhil Gupta and Michael F. Zito were selected from among 16,000 scholastically talented high school seniors now eligible to continue in the competition for a chance to earn one of more than 8,000 Merit Scholarship(r) awards, worth an estimated $33.9 million, to be offered next spring.

"Once again, students from Manhasset High School lead by example and demonstrate that hard work is not only recognized but often rewarded," said Dr. Lawrence Bozzomo, superintendent of the Manhasset School District. "We are proud of the achievements of all Manhasset students and we wish these five students the best of luck in the 2005 Merit Scholarship Competition."

Three types of Merit Scholarship awards will be offered in 2005 including 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships awarded on a statewide basis, 1,100 corporate-sponsored scholarships and 4,600 college-sponsored scholarships.

Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their academic performance, accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference. Merit Scholarship winners for 2005 will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.