Hewlett High seniors named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists
David Balzac and Ivan Reznikov are among 16,000 students recognized nationwide.
Hewlett High School seniors David Balzac and Ivan Reznikov, both 17, have been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, according to the Nassau Herald. They are among more than 16,000 students nationwide and are eligible to continue competing for about 6,700 scholarships worth around $24 million, to be awarded next spring. The longtime friends, who have known each other since second grade, are among the highest-scoring entrants in New York state.
District officials praised the achievement. Reznikov said he was proud given the high cutoff in New York. Balzac has a 103.6 GPA and scored 1,560 on the SAT; Reznikov has a 104.43 GPA and scored 1,540. Both take AP Physics, AP Computer Science, and advanced calculus. They are active in robotics as members of Team Innovo, with Reznikov handling programming and Balzac helping design the robot.
To advance to finalist status, they must maintain strong records, get a school official's endorsement, submit an essay, and earn confirming test scores. About 95 percent of semifinalists are expected to become finalists, with notifications in February. Balzac is involved in the math team and hopes to be its president; Reznikov captains the swim team and plays goalie in lacrosse.