School of Science and Mathematics Contact: Linda Waters Director of Public Information 1141 N. Lincoln Blvd. , OK 73104 Phone: (405) 522-7806 Email: [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Celebrates 26 National Merit Finalists List Reflects Record Number of OSSM Students for Prestigious Scholarship

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- (Feb. 22, 2021)- The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) announced today that 26 seniors have been named finalists in the 2021 competition for National Merit Scholarships. This is the highest number of semifinalists in the School’s history.

The OSSM students are: Cade Birdsong (Owasso), Aurora Chen (Oklahoma City), Sean Cheng (Norman), Michael Dong (Edmond), Romy Gou (Ardmore), Harrison Hawxby (Edmond), Derek Huang (Tulsa), Ajay Kilambi (Broken Arrow), Isabella Liu (Edmond), Madolyn Mayo (Sallisaw), Keon Morad (Edmond), Kevin Nguyen (Oklahoma City), Emeka Nkurumeh (Oklahoma City), Aiden Ozment (Norman), Luke Ozment (Norman), Ziyun Pan (Bartlesville), Rohan Rajeev (Edmond), Harrison Riley (Tahlequah), Anthony Tan (Broken Arrow), Anna Wang (Ardmore), Lunea Wang (Edmond), Megan Waters (Duncan), Evelyn Wilson (Fairland), David Yao (Edmond), Daniel Yowell (Broken Arrow), and Sylvan Zhang (Stillwater).

Selection as National Merit Semifinalists is based on results of the PSAT test taken at the beginning of a student’s junior year, the first year of attendance at OSSM.

“This year’s list of semifinalists is the largest in our school’s history, surpassing OSSM’s record of 22 in a single year,” said OSSM President Frank Wang, Ph.D. “We congratulate these students and recognize the schools that sent them to OSSM for their outstanding preparation as students took the PSAT test shortly after arriving at OSSM.”

More than 16,000 semifinalists were named by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These high school seniors now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring.

Established in 1955, National Merit Scholarship Corp. is an independent, not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Since its founding, the program has recognized 2.9 million academically talented high school students and provided more than 377,000 scholarships worth $1.5 billion. The honors are viewed as definitive marks of excellence and contribute to developing future leaders.

OSSM provides the highest quality education to high school juniors and seniors from throughout Oklahoma. During the two years students attend OSSM, their ACT scores increase dramatically.

About OSSM

Nationally ranked as a top public high school in the United States, OSSM provides a college-level, academically advanced curriculum in science and mathematics to juniors and seniors across the state. Created through legislative action in 1983, the two-year residential public high school serves all Oklahoma schools and students through statewide math contests, day workshops for students, teacher professional development and outreach activities for students of varying ages. For more information, call (405) 521-6436 or visit the website at www.ossm.edu.

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First Name Last Name High School Hometown Cade Birdsong Owasso Aurora Chen Classen SAS Oklahoma City Sean Cheng Norman Michael Dong Edmond Santa Fe High School Edmond Romy Gou Plainview High School Ardmore Harrison Hawxby Crossings Christian High School Edmond Derek Huang Tulsa Ajay Kilambi Union High School Broken Arrow Isabella Liu Edmond Santa Fe High School Edmond Madolyn Mayo Sallisaw High School Sallisaw Keon Moradi Edmond Kevin Nguyen Classen SAS Oklahoma City Emeka Nkurumeh Oklahoma City Aiden Ozment Norman North High School Norman Luke Ozment Norman North High School Norman Ryan Pan Bartlesville Rohan Rajeev Edmond Memorial High School Edmond Harrison Riley Tahlequah High School Tahlequah Anthony Tan Union High School Broken Arrow Anna Wang Plainview High School Ardmore Lunea Wang Deer Creek High School Edmond Megan Waters Duncan High School Duncan Evelyn Wilson Thomas Jefferson IDS Fairland David Yao Edmond Santa Fe High School Edmond Daniel Yowell Union High School Broken Arrow Sylvan Zhang Stillwater High School Stillwater