All LVJUSD National Merit Semifinalists Achieve Finalist Standing

March 6, 2025 - Livermore, CA - All 12 Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District’s (LVJUSD) National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists have advanced as Finalists, placing them among the top 1% of high school seniors nationwide. Granada High School’s Sameer Dhanvantari, Avi Iyer, Rishabh Mahesh, Audrey Manley, Caspar Markel, Aarav Mehta, Ziad Mohammed, Amelia Mueller, Kayla van Waes, and Kate Wang, along with Livermore High School’s Grace Gallagher and Vineyard Alternative’s Jessica Traugott, earned this prestigious distinction based on their outstanding academic achievements, test scores, extracurricular involvement, and leadership.
 
“Becoming a National Merit Scholarship Finalist is no small feat, as it reflects not only on a student’s academic excellence, but also on their involvement and leadership throughout their high school career. We are incredibly proud of these students for their hard work and commitment to success,” shared Superintendent Torie Gibson.
 
A student’s performance on the PSAT during their junior year is a key factor in qualifying for National Merit Semifinalist and Finalist status. Thanks to the generous support of the Pedrozzi Foundation, LVJUSD is proud to offer the PSAT to all juniors each year at no cost. Beyond serving as a qualifier for National Merit recognition, the PSAT provides valuable insights by identifying students’ academic strengths and suggesting areas of study and potential career paths based on their results. “We are grateful that our partnership with Pedrozzi continues to eliminate financial barriers, ensuring every student has the opportunity to pursue National Merit recognition,” shared Michelle Pechette, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services.
 
Since 1955, The National Merit Scholarship Program has recognized and provided scholarships to high-achieving students through corporate, institutional, and nonprofit sponsors. For more information on the National Merit Scholarship organization, visit nationalmerit.org.
 
Photo 1: LVJUSD National Merit Finalists 
 
Top Row (left to right): Sameer Dhanvantari, Grace Gallagher, Avi Iyer, Rishabh Mahesh
Middle Row (left to right): Audrey Manley, Caspar Markel, Aarav Mehta, Ziad Mohammed 
Bottom Row (left to right): Amelia Mueller, Jessica Traugott, Kayla van Waes, Kate Wang
 
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ABOUT LIVERMORE VALLEY JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
LVJUSD is an award-winning district that serves more than 13,000 students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade at nine elementary campuses, two TK-8 schools, three middle schools, two comprehensive high schools, and two alternative schools. The LVJUSD features International Baccalaureate Programmes, a Dual Immersion Program, and a STEM pathway, TK-12. The mission of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District is to ensure each student will graduate with the skills needed to contribute and thrive in a changing world. For more information about the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, please visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/5ea42420/-477IWvyuECZVeY-FTV7ZQ?u=http://www.livermoreschools.org/ 
 
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
School Board President Emily Prusso, [email protected]  (925) 606-3281
Superintendent of Schools Torie Gibson, Ed.D., [email protected]  (925) 606-3281
Coordinator of Community Engagement Michelle Dawson, [email protected] (925) 960-2917