Hillsdale Academy building front exterior.

Hillsdale Academy Seniors to Compete in National Merit Competition

Five Rising Seniors Reach Semi-Finalist Status for Third Time in School History

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Hillsdale, Mich. – Hillsdale Academy, an independent, classical K-12 school located on the campus of Hillsdale College, today announced it will have five rising seniors competing in the National Merit competition during the 2017-18 school year. Elizabeth Bianchi, Michael Craig, Caroline Culjak, Nicholas Rush, and Leo Schlueter have all advanced to semifinalist status in the competition.

“Elizabeth, Michael, Caroline, Nicholas, and Leo join a long list of Academy students who have represented the school in the National Merit competition,” said Dr. Kenneth Calvert, Hillsdale Academy headmaster.  “For the third time in the history of our school, we’ve had five students reach semifinalist status. This puts us on par with some of the top high schools in the state of Michigan.”

The National Merit Scholarship program honors students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The competition is open to all U.S. high school students who meet entry requirements. Semifinalists represent the top 0.5 percent of a state’s senior students.

About Hillsdale Academy
Hillsdale Academy is an independent, classical K-12 day school located on the campus of Hillsdale College. A rigorous course of study is combined with the strong conviction that the biblical and classical virtues are necessary in the formation of the American citizen. The school was established out of the conviction that modern American education was in need of profound reform. More information at academy.hillsdale.edu.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College is an independent liberal arts college located in southern Michigan. Founded in 1844, the College has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 5.7 million. For more information, visit hillsdale.edu.

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Media inquiries may be directed to:
Emily Stack Davis
517-607-2730 (work)
517-803-3745 (cell)
[email protected]
For all other inquiries contact Hillsdale College at 517-437-7341