The National Merit Scholarship Program has determined that Elder High School seniors Sam Harmeyer, Evan Vollmer, and Jared Vornhagen have met all requirements to advance to Finalist standing in the 2020 Competition for National Merit Scholarships!

Less than 1% of the 1.5 million juniors from across the country who took the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) can lay claim to Finalist standing. The trio now advance to compete against nearly 15,000 other Finalists for some 7,500 Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million.

Sam, Evan and Jared are products of Elder’s Honors Program, a rigorous program of courses which challenges the academically gifted students of the school. All three young men are also members of Elder’s National Honor Society.

Sam Harmeyer is the student body President for the 2019-2020 school year and a member of the following: student government, Elder’s Ambassador Program, concert and stage band, and the Health Collaborative TapMD shadowing program. Sam is also a peer tutor and Boys & Girls Club tutor and was the place-kicker for the Panther football team. Sam is from Our Lady of Visitation parish and he is the son of John and Colleen Harmeyer of Cleves.

Evan Vollmer is also a member of Elder’s Ambassador Program, a peer tutor, and a member of the student run Why Not Service Group, and was a wide receiver on the football team. Evan is from Our Lady of Victory parish and he is the son of Jason and Michele Vollmer of Delhi.

Jared Vornhagen serves as an intern for the University of Cincinnati Law School/Ohio Innocence Project as well as serving as a foreman for the Hamilton County Youth Court. He interned last summer with the Public Defender’s Office of Hamilton County, and he is the team captain of Elder’s Mock Trial Team. Jared is from St. Jude parish and he is the son of Brian and Shellie Vornhagen of Green Township.