Emmaus High School student Benjamin Wiese is among the more than 16,000 students nationwide recently announced as 2024 National Merit® Scholarship Program semifinalists.

Wiese is currently in his senior year at EHS.

According to the National Merit® Scholarship program website, high school seniors recognized as semifinalists “have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered” in spring 2024.

At EHS, Wiese is a member of National Honor Society and German Honor Society and has been named to the principal’s honor roll throughout his high school career. He also is a member of the academic team as well as the physics and chess clubs at EHS.

A musician, Wiese also plays in the EHS Sinfonia and Chamber orchestras. He also participates in theater at the school.

Wiese earned his Order of the Arrow as a Scout. He is a member of Troop 71 based in Macungie and is an Eagle Scout candidate.

He also is active in his church youth group.

Wiese plans to pursue a degree in engineering.

The following EHS students were recognized as commended scholars by the NMSP: Aidan J. Arakkal, Ryan Baig, Madison P. Carreiro, Elijah F. Daly, Kayla R. DiGiacomo, Aidan J. Doyle, Tyler J. Finck, Chase R. Gravereaux, Jeremy P. Lam, Ogonna B. Nnodimele, Thomas J. Seislove, Sarvesh K. Senguttuvan, Henry G. Stewart, Angela Tran, Hugh R. Wilks.

Commended students do not continue in the program to compete for National Merit® Scholarships; however, some may be selected as candidates for special scholarships.

According to literature about the scholarship program, “United States high school students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which serves as an initial screen of over 1.3 million entrants each year and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.”