Rancho Santa Fe student one of four area Pacific Ridge National Merit semifinalists

Rancho Santa Fe resident Tyler Lochan was named a 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalist. He joins three other students, Juliana Fan, Anthony Oliverio and Vincent Wang, from Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad to earn the honors.

Of the 1.5 million high school students who take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, just 16,000 score high enough to receive the distinction of semifinalist. All of the semifinalists excel both in and outside of the classroom.

Tyler is a four-year member of the Dean’s List, an AP Scholar, and a member of the French National Honor Society. He participates in the Pacific Ridge Improv Club, rows with the San Diego Rowing Club, and is co-founder of a school service-learning group dedicated to educating the community about food insecurity.

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, approximately 15,000 students are expected to advance to the finalist level of the National Merit Scholarship Program. Finalists will compete for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth about $35 million, to be offered next spring.