Nineteen students from Columbus Academy were announced today as semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring.
“These students – with their various interests and achievements – impact our school in many ways that supersede their excellent test scores, and yet they excel in the National Merit competition as well,” stated Head of School Melissa Soderberg. “We can’t wait to see what they will do in college and beyond.”
Columbus Academy’s 2022 National Merit Semifinalists:
Devan (Davey) Agrawal, son of Amit and Rita Agrawal of New Albany
- Favorite classes: Biology, Spanish 4, Computer Science, U.S. History and English 10/11, to name just a few!
- Activities and interests: Student Council, Environmental Club, lacrosse, soccer and pickup basketball
- Possible fields of study in college: environmental studies/sustainability
Russell Ahmed, son of Imtiaz and Nahid Ahmed of Blacklick
- Favorite classes: Honors Calculus-Based Statistics and Probability (Stats), Honors Precalculus, Advanced English 10, Honors English: Toni Morrison, Honors U.S. History, Honors Computer Science 1-3
- Activities and interests: three-time state champion golfer who competes nationally all over the country, loves playing the trumpet in the school’s jazz and concert bands, serves on the Disciplinary and Honor Committee and also as the varsity debate team captain
- Possible fields of study in college: constitutional law, chemistry or even statistics (still relatively undecided and exploring these options)
Siddharth Amirneni, son of Lavanya and Vamsee Amirneni of Delaware
- Favorite classes: Advanced Biology, Honors Physics, Honors Bio and all Honors Computer Science classes
- Activities and interests: tennis (year-round and school spring season), Student Council, Desi Club, drumming, and staying active (working out, running, basketball, etc.)
- Possible fields of study in college: biophysics, biomedical science and cell/molecular biology (most likely will be on the pre-med track)
Spandana Amirneni, daughter of of Lavanya and Vamsee Amirneni of Delaware
- Favorite classes: Spanish, Psychology, U.S. History
- Activities and interests: tennis, volunteering, debate, yearbook, dance, DESI/AAPI leader
- Possible fields of study in college: neuroscience/psychology
Alexandra Butnariu, daughter of Daniel and Madalina Butnariu of Upper Arlington
- Favorite classes: Computer Science (1,2,3) with Mr. Feinberg, Honors Calculus-Based Statistics with Dr. Linder and Advanced Biology with Mr. Davis
- Activities and interests: swims year-round with Greater Columbus Swim Club, also a varsity swimmer and tennis player at Academy, participates in Model UN and also enjoys painting and photography, has been working with neurosurgeon Dr. Vibhor Krishna for almost two-and-a-half years on research about concerns with focused ultrasound
- Possible fields of study in college: neuroscience and pre-med (wants to be a surgeon)
Julia DeVore, daughter of Lori and Thomas DeVore of Westerville
- Favorite classes: Computer Science, Portfolio Technical Theatre and Journalism
- Activities and interests: participates in school’s Service Board and Regale Coterie club, member of the school’s cross country, track and swimming teams, also likes to do taekwondo outside of school and volunteers with Sunrise Senior Living
- Possible fields of study in college: engineering and forensic science
Soham Joshi, son of Santosh and Vrushali Joshi of Lewis Center
- Favorite classes: Computer Science and Latin
- Activities and interests: Business Club, Chess Club and Mu Alpha Theta
- Possible fields of study in college: business or economics
Madeleine Kazatsky, daughter of Courtney and Gary Kazatsky of New Albany
- Favorite classes: Honors Music Theory, Advanced Moral Philosophy, Choir, Band
- Activities and interests: LGBTQ+ affinity leadership, Gender Sexuality Alliance, musical performance (instrumental and vocal), theatre
- Possible fields of study in college: musical performance and studies
Janet Li, daughter of Zhenan Li and Haiyan Zhu of Powell
- Favorite classes: “There’s so many, I could never choose!”
- Activities and interests: music, creative writing, Science Olympiad, affinity groups, Model UN
- Possible fields of study in college: social sciences
Raaghav Malik, son of Akta and Bob Malik of Galena
- Favorite classes: Honors Computer Science 2, Honors Physics, Multivariable Calculus
- Activities and interests: playing the flute, research, tutoring, Model UN
- Possible fields of study in college: physics, computer science
Cyrus Richardson, son of Craig and Jennifer Richardson of Blacklick
- Favorite classes: Ceramics and Physics
- Activities and interests: enjoys participating in sports (cross country, swimming) and clubs (Ceramics, Latin, Model UN)
- Possible fields of study in college: one possibility at the moment is bio-engineering
Malachy Sullivan, son of Jessy and John Sullivan of New Albany
- Favorite classes: Comparative Government, Spanish 4, English Language and Computer Science 1
- Activities and interests: soccer, Model UN, National History Day and tennis
- Possible fields of study in college: international relations
Haichuan (Fletcher) Sun of Gahanna, son of Lijuan Qiao and Gang Sun of Shanghai, China
- Favorite classes: World History
- Activities and interests: watching/playing soccer, participating in Model UN
- Possible fields of study in college: undecided
Lindsay Sutherland, daughter of Kathryn and Michael Sutherland of New Albany
- Favorite classes: Computer Science, Latin and Bio 2
- Activities and interests: Latin, DnD and yearbook clubs, also plays volleyball and throws discus for school’s track and field program
- Possible fields of study in college: plans to study engineering
Yashu Tanneru, daughter of Mahesh and Padmaja Tanneru of Powell
- Favorite classes: Calculus, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics
- Activities and interests: volunteering, Service Board, speech and debate
- Possible fields of study in college: math, engineering, science
Amiya Tiwari, daughter of Kate and Pankaj Tiwari of Worthington
- Favorite classes: Spanish (especially Honors 4 and 5) and Calculus
- Activities and interests: affinity groups (MAOS and Desi Club), journalism, Spanish Club, Student Council, also loves exploring Columbus, trying new restaurants and shopping with friends
- Possible fields of study in college: Spanish language and culture, psychology
Carolyn Vaziri, daughter of David and Kelly Vaziri of New Albany
- Favorite classes: U.S. History & Government, Honors English: Toni Morrison and Latin
- Activities and interests: field hockey and lacrosse, journalism, Student Council, yearbook, CRIS, reading and watching sports (usually baseball)
- Possible fields of study in college: history and political science
Ethan Weiser, son of Adam and Laura Weiser of New Albany
- Favorite classes: Modern European History, Comparative Government, Latin
- Activities and interests: Model UN, journalism and cooking
- Possible fields of study in college: international relations/political science
Stephen Wright, son of Dudley Wright of Johnstown and Bronwyn Wright of Bexley
- Favorite classes: Computer Science, Latin and Band
- Activities and interests: runs cross country and track, plays tuba in the school’s concert and pep bands as well as trombone in the jazz band, enjoys spending time outdoors camping, backpacking and canoeing
- Possible fields of study in college: will be studying computer science, likely with a focus in cybersecurity
High school juniors entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of approximately 16,000 semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.