Corcoran Senior Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

One of 16,000 nationwide; one of 971 in New York State; one of five in the Syracuse area; the only one in the Syracuse City School District.
 
As a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Competition, Corcoran senior Connor Shanahan has earned quite the list of accolades.
 
When taking the PSAT his sophomore year, Connor discovered that had he been a junior, his score would have qualified him in the National Merit Scholarship Program. He did some research and learned more about the program, a competition where about 7,600 national finalists receive more than $31 million in college scholarships. Then, he studied.
 
Junior year, he took the PSAT again, and this September, he learned his efforts had paid off: he was named a semifinalist!
 
“I’m really pleased with myself,” Connor – now a senior – said. “It’s 12 years of hard work in school paying off! I think a lot of great things happen in the Syracuse City School District that aren’t reported on the news like they would be if they happened in other districts. I’m proud that I can be an example of something great happening in the City.”
 
Connor’s dad, Mike, is a Social Studies teacher at Corcoran. He shares his son’s sense of pride.
 
“Connor’s accomplishment shows that the Syracuse City School District is providing the resources and programs necessary for kids to excel,” Mr. Shanahan explained. “People look at the city and think: those kids aren’t doing well. But this is a perfect example of how our kids are excelling.”
 
Merit Scholarship finalists should be announced in December, but Connor said he is proud just to have made it this far in the competition.
 
“It’s a great thing to be able to put on my resume… colleges will like it!”
 
Connor is looking at his options for college next year and said he is undecided on major and school but plans to pursue a career in the STEM field. Congratulations, Connor!