
At the Jan. 22 Board of Education meeting, Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton began his report by acknowledging 18 outstanding students for the following accolades: a National Merit Semifinalist, National Merit Commended Students and those recognized through the College Board National Recognition Program.
Hicksville High School senior Kim Widjaja was recently named a National Merit Semifinalist in the 70th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Kim is among approximately 16,000 semifinalists selected nationally from an estimated 1.3 million who entered the academic competition upon taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as juniors. Being recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist means Kim will have a chance to win a National Merit Scholarship this Spring. A Semifinalist represents the top 1% of United States high school seniors and highest-scoring entrants from each state.
Four Hicksville High School students Evan Chun, Om Doshi, Alyssa Garger and Aashritha Kilambi were named Commended Students as part of the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students are identified based on their Preliminary SAT scores. They placed among the top 50,000 of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2025 competition by taking the exam, which serves as the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test. The four Hicksville seniors are part of a select group being recognized nationally for this exceptional academic accomplishment.
Sixteen Hicksville High School seniors were celebrated for being named as part of the College Board National Recognition Program. These students qualify based on strong academic performance reflected by PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 scores within the top 10% of test takers for each award program in each state or a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams by the end of 10th grade.
First-Generation students are the first in their families to attend a college or university. The First-Generation award was established to recognize and honor first-generation college students for their academic and leadership initiatives.
The National African American Recognition Program, part of the College Board’s National Recognition Programs, honors high-achieving African American students based on their academic performances (SAT, PSAT, or AP scores) and GPA.
The National Hispanic Recognition Program was initiated in 1983 by the College Board to identify outstanding Hispanic high school students and to share information about these academically well-prepared students with subscribing colleges and universities.
Congratulations to the following students Ahmad Ali (First-Generation), Brianna Atis (Hispanic), Daniel Chen (First-Generation), Julian Gandolfo (Hispanic), Derick Garay (First-Generation and Hispanic), Alyssa Garger (First-Generation), Sisi Goh (First-Generation), Brianna Goodrich (First-Generation), Michael Hamidi (First-Generation), Mandeep Kaur (First- Generation), Heather Mane (Hispanic), Lauren Mason (African American), Isabella Roldan (Hispanic), Jaskaran Singh (First-Generation), Hailey Treminio Sempe (First-Generation and Hispanic) and Kimberly Widjaja (First-Generation).
In addition to exhibiting academic excellence, all the above students participate in a range of programs, organizations and activities both in and outside of school that enrich Hicksville High School. The district extends congratulations to all on their outstanding accomplishments.

(L-R) Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton, National Merit Semifinalist Kim Widjaja, Hicksville Board of Education President Annette Beiner and Hicksville High School Principal Raymond Williams.

(L-R) Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton, Hicksville Board of Education President Annette Beiner, Commended Students Aashritha Kilambi, Alyssa Garger and Evan Chun, Hicksville High School Principal Raymond Williams. (Missing from photo: Om Doshi)

(L-R) Back Row: Hicksville Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ted Fulton with recognized students through the College Board National Recognition Program Jaskaran Singh, Julian Gandolfo, Daniel Chen and Hicksville High School Principal Raymond Williams Front Row: (L-R) Hicksville Board of Education Vice President Sunita Manjrekar, students Mandeep Kaur, Brianna Atis, Derick Garay, Alyssa Garger, Lauren Mason, Hailey Treminio Sempe and Kimberly Widjaja. (Missing students from photo: Ahmad Ali, Sisi Goh, Brianna Goodrich, Heather Mane and Isabella Roldan)