Jennifer Miao, a grade 12 student at Concordia International School Shanghai, was all smiles at the high school morning assembly yesterday, after receiving a letter of commendation for her outstanding performance on the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

The letter of commendation signifies Jennifer's designation as a commended student in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Of the 1.4 million students who took the 2006 PSAT/NMSQT, only 34,000 receive this commendation. The commendation is based on a student's Selection Index score and indicates a student with exceptional academic promise.

On a related note, Jennifer's twin brother, James, received notice last month that he is a 2008 National Merit Scholar Semifinalist.

From this same 1.4 million-strong pool of PSAT/NMSQT test takers, only 16,000 students were named semifinalists. As a semifinalist, James continues to compete for a Merit Scholarship award. A total of 8,200 scholarships worth US$34 million will be awarded next spring.

Concordia congratulates both Jennifer and James on their outstanding achievements and wishes James all the very best as he works toward his scholarship goal.

(Shanghai Daily October 20, 2007)