Pasadena High School Celebrates National Merit Finalists Matteo Paz and Paulina McConnell

Pasadena High School is proud to announce that students Matteo Paz and Paulina McConnell have been named National Merit Finalists – an outstanding accomplishment that places them among the top academic performers in the nation.

The National Merit Scholarship Program honors students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and score highly on the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), typically taken during their junior year. Of the 1.5 million students who take the exam each year, only about 15,000 advance to Finalist status after meeting rigorous academic standards and submitting a comprehensive application detailing their academic records, extracurricular activities, and leadership contributions.

As Finalists, Matteo and Paulina are now eligible to compete for prestigious National Merit Scholarships, which will be awarded this spring. Their dedication, hard work, and pursuit of excellence have opened doors to exciting future opportunities.

Pasadena High School congratulates Matteo and Paulina on this well-earned recognition and celebrates their exemplary representation of the PHS community.

Pasadena High School, 2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 396-5880 or visit https://phs.pusd.us/.