Ian Hua, a previously announced National Merit Scholar finalist (announcement below), has been selected as one of just 2,500 Merit Scholar designees from across the nation! Ian and fellow designees were selected from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Ian is the William Floyd High School Class of 2022 valedictorian who has been involved in a multitude of activities including serving as the student body president and member of class council. During his senior year, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 138, is a student musician and earned NYSBDA All-State honors (flute, piano) and is a NYSSMA alternate. He is a also a member of the jazz band, pep band, the wind ensemble and the pit orchestra; plays on the varsity tennis team; serves as co-president of the National Honor Society; and is a member of the award-winning Youth & Government program (attorney and assembly member) all while maintaining a weighted grade point average exceeding 104. Ian will attend Harvard University in the fall and will focus on economics and government (majors are declared in the sophomore year at Harvard). 

National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

These Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

This information was embargoed until May 11, 2022.

March 15, 2022 at 11:50 am

William Floyd High School senior Ian Hua has been named a finalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor reserved for just 15,000 students nationwide, representing less than one percent of the graduating class of 2022. Ian was selected as a semifinalist in the fall due to his outstanding performance on the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test taken during his junior year. He now has the opportunity to earn one of just 7,500 Merit Scholarship awards.

Ian, who attended William Floyd schools K-12 including William Floyd Elementary School and William Floyd Middle School, has been accepted to Harvard University in the fall and plans to study either economics or government. At Harvard, majors are not declared until a student’s sophomore year.

At William Floyd High School, Ian is a high-academic achiever and someone who is involved in many extracurricular activities. He serves as the student government president, is a member of National Honor Society, the Science Honor Society, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Youth & Government program. He is looking forward to two upcoming trips – FBLA and the upcoming Youth & Government conference in Albany, which are back to being in-person events. Ian is a talented student-musician on the flute and piano, is a member of the jazz band, and has had the opportunity to play in the pit orchestra for William Floyd High School/Ocean Arts musical productions, including the upcoming “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Ian is also an Eagle Scout with Troop 138 in Mastic Beach, completing his Eagle Scout service project to construct planter boxes and help revitalize a portion of the blacktop for children at William Floyd Elementary School.

William Floyd High School principal Philip Scotto recently presented Ian with a National Merit Scholarship Program Certificate of Merit for advancing “to finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2022 by demonstrating through distinguished performance high potential for future academic accomplishment.”