Walsh Jesuit High School Boasts Two National Merit Scholar Semifinalists and Four Commended Students
Two Walsh Jesuit seniors – Kyle Grebb and Grace Gronowski have advanced to Semifinalist status in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship competition. Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
These students have an opportunity to continue to compete for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth over $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to advance to Finalist status in February, with National Merit finalists being announced in the Spring. Of that 90 percent, about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
In addition, four Walsh Jesuit students received notice that they are Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their performance on the 2017 PSAT. Those students are Katrina Jurczyk, Adam Shah, Eleanor Smith and Christopher Zinkan.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 410 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
National Merit Semifinalists
Kyle Grebb is a member of the National Honor Society, is captain of the swim team, lacrosse team and played football at Walsh Jesuit. He is a volunteer at Make a Splash Foundation helping children learn how to swim and he works part-time at Fun n’ Stuff. He lives in Cuyahoga Falls and attended Woodridge Middle School. Kyle hopes to study at Notre Dame University, University of Pennsylvania or The Ohio State University.
Kyle Grebb is a member of the National Honor Society, is captain of the swim team, lacrosse team and played football at Walsh Jesuit. He is a volunteer at Make a Splash Foundation helping children learn how to swim and he works part-time at Fun n’ Stuff. He lives in Cuyahoga Falls and attended Woodridge Middle School. Kyle hopes to study at Notre Dame University, University of Pennsylvania or The Ohio State University.
Grace Gronowski has been a part of the field hockey team, student government, the chemistry club, and has served as a student ambassador for admissions during her time at Walsh Jesuit. She is a yoga instructor, plays the violin and works as a junior ambassador for Rahab, an organization that provides support for sexually trafficked women. She lives in Bath and attended Revere Middle School. Grace hopes to study at Northwestern, the University of Chicago or Vanderbilt University upon graduation.
National Merit Commended Students
While a student at Walsh Jesuit, Katrina Jurczyk has been a member of the Harmony Gold Show Choir, the Sketch literary magazine, the chemistry club, and the string orchestra. She is a part-time employee at Country Maid and has participated in the High School Rock Off. Katrina lives in Brecksville and before attending Walsh Jesuit, she was a student at St. Michael School. She hopes to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Adam Shah is a member of the National Honor Society and has been a captain of the men’s cross country and track and field teams while attending Walsh Jesuit. He also participates in the ping pong club. He volunteers frequently at the Akron-Canton Foodbank and Victory Gallop, an organization providing therapeutic horseback riding for children. He lives in Munroe Falls and attended Holy Family School. Adam hopes to attend John Carroll, Ohio Northern University or Loyola University Maryland.
Eleanor Smith participates in the cross country team, theater tech crew, Harmony Gold Show Choir, robotics club, chamber choir, and the madrigals. She also volunteered for the Ms. Wheelchair USA Pageant, hosted by Walsh Jesuit for the past two years. Eleanor lives in Copley and attended Old Trail School prior to Walsh Jesuit. She hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Polytechnic Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, or Cornell University next fall.
A National Honor Society student, Christopher Zinkan has been a part of the track and field team, the robotics club, the tech crew, and string orchestra while attending Walsh Jesuit. He volunteers at Goodwill and has a part-time job at Teresa’s Pizza. Christopher lives in Aurora and attended St. Joan of Arc before becoming a student at Walsh Jesuit. He hopes to attend Miami University (Ohio), The Ohio State University or the Rochester Institute of Technology when he graduates.
While a student at Walsh Jesuit, Katrina Jurczyk has been a member of the Harmony Gold Show Choir, the Sketch literary magazine, the chemistry club, and the string orchestra. She is a part-time employee at Country Maid and has participated in the High School Rock Off. Katrina lives in Brecksville and before attending Walsh Jesuit, she was a student at St. Michael School. She hopes to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Adam Shah is a member of the National Honor Society and has been a captain of the men’s cross country and track and field teams while attending Walsh Jesuit. He also participates in the ping pong club. He volunteers frequently at the Akron-Canton Foodbank and Victory Gallop, an organization providing therapeutic horseback riding for children. He lives in Munroe Falls and attended Holy Family School. Adam hopes to attend John Carroll, Ohio Northern University or Loyola University Maryland.
Eleanor Smith participates in the cross country team, theater tech crew, Harmony Gold Show Choir, robotics club, chamber choir, and the madrigals. She also volunteered for the Ms. Wheelchair USA Pageant, hosted by Walsh Jesuit for the past two years. Eleanor lives in Copley and attended Old Trail School prior to Walsh Jesuit. She hopes to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Polytechnic Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, or Cornell University next fall.
A National Honor Society student, Christopher Zinkan has been a part of the track and field team, the robotics club, the tech crew, and string orchestra while attending Walsh Jesuit. He volunteers at Goodwill and has a part-time job at Teresa’s Pizza. Christopher lives in Aurora and attended St. Joan of Arc before becoming a student at Walsh Jesuit. He hopes to attend Miami University (Ohio), The Ohio State University or the Rochester Institute of Technology when he graduates.
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