Back in October, Heights High seniors Eleanor Lubbers, Gabriel Mallamad, and Lev McFarland were announced as National Merit Scholars. The scholars recently shared their experiences taking Advanced Placement (AP) and College Credit Plus (CCP) classes, extracurricular activities they are involved in, and Heights High faculty that have made an impact on them during their high school careers.

Nora, Gabriel, and Lev are National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in the 2026 competition, and have the opportunity to advance to the finalist level and qualify for National Merit Scholarships.

Nationally, 16,000 semifinalists were recognized, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors. More than 1.3 million students entered the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Competition by taking the PSAT test in the fall of their junior year.

Eleanor Lubbers is enjoying the CCP American Literature II class she is taking this semester through Tri-C because of all of the new literature that she is exposed to that she never had the chance to read or learn about before. "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" by Wallace Stevens was one her favorites because it "was really impactful and a profound commentary on the relationship between humanity and the natural world." She is also taking AP Biology and Statistics, Social Psychology, and CCP Intro to Fiction through Tri-C. Nora is a member of the A Cappella Choir, Heights Singers, the National Honor Society, and the vice president of Heights High's Women's Barbershop ensemble. After graduation, she plans to major in English at Cornell University, Lehigh University or the University of Chicago. Nora would like to thank Mrs. White for making AP Language and Composition fun when she took it her junior year, helping with her Common App essays, and for letting her and her friends have lunch in her classroom. "I really appreciate that she's continuing to help us even though we're no longer her students."

Gabriel Mallamad is currently taking CCP College Composition, Neuroscience and Introduction to American Studies as well as AP African American History and Chemistry. He is co-captain of the Boys Cross Country team, a member of the Track and Field team, and the co-president of Heights High's National Honor Society. The AP Mirco and Macroeconomics courses he took his junior year stood out because they changed his perspective on how he thinks about the world as opposed to just teaching him knowledge. It also reassured him in what he wants to study in college. Gabriel plans to study Finance or Economics at Georgetown University or the University of Pennsylvania. He would like to thank Mr. O'Deens, Mr. Shell, and Mr. Zidlicky for how engaging their classes were and how they helped him become interested in what he wants to study in college. He attributes much of his high school success to them and the valuable study habits they taught "that you need to know if you want to succeed in college-level classes."

Lev McFarland is currently taking AP Environmental Science, Psychology and Statistics and is also a member of the A Cappella Choir and Heights Singers. The AP Biology course they took last year was their favorite course because "I had an amazing time and I think I learned a lot." Outside of academics, Lev is highly involved in extracurriculars at Heights High as a member of the Swim Cadets, the Women's Barbershop ensemble, and the treasurer of the National Honor Society. Lev is also an assistant teacher and Senior Rabbinic Search Committee member at their synagogue. McFarland's top school choice is the College of William & Mary and they plan to study Biochemistry on a pre-medical track. Lev would like to thank their vocal music teacher, Mr. Lange, for giving them "an opportunity to sing and have a good time in choir."