St. Thomas Students Named Finalists in National Merit® Scholarship Program

DOVER—

St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) High School is pleased to announce that the National Merit Scholarship Corporation has named seniors James Klingensmith and Matthew Radford National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

Started in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships, honoring students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The test serves as an initial screen of more than 1.5 million entrants each year. Of these entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Klingensmith and Radford will now compete for one of the 8,400 Merit Scholarships to be awarded this spring from a group of more than 15,000 scholarship finalists. This finalist group represents less than 1 percent of the nation’s pool of high school seniors.

“We are very proud of James and Matthew’s accomplishments in moving forward as candidates for a National Merit Scholarship. Each is most deserving of this consideration; they are two of St. Thomas’ finest students,” said Principal Kevin Collins.

Radford is from Brentwood, and was also recently named as a US Presidential Scholarship candidate. He is a three-season runner and a member of the STA Music Ministry program. In college, he plans to study math, physics and music. Among others, Radford has applied to Olin College, Boston College, Dartmouth, Harvard, Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Gordon College.

Klingensmith is from Nottingham, and is a member of the STA D-V State Champion Football Team and the Math Team. James is interested in studying chemical engineering and is awaiting decisions from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

PHOTO CAPTION: National Merit Scholarship Finalists Matthew Radford and James Klingensmith shown with St. Thomas Aquinas Principal Kevin Collins. (Courtesy Photo)

The Harlem Wizards Celebrate 50 years of Worldwide Wizardry

SOMERSWORTH—

At a Wizards game, fans see amazing basketball talent combined with hilarious comedy. The athleticism, tricks, fancy teamwork and ball-handling wizardry, plus wild dunks not seen in the NBA, combine to engage and wow the most avid of basketball fans. The Wizards look to push the envelope on fun, combining pre-planned comedic acts with a spontaneous humor that fans of all ages will find laugh-out-loud funny. The halftime show features hundreds of kids on the court, and the post-game interaction is the cherry on top as the Wizards stay until every autograph is signed.

Often, people who have not taken in a Wizards show compare the Wizards with the Globetrotters. Todd Davis, Wizards President said, “While the Globetrotters are quite well known and many consider them synonymous with show basketball, they do not deliver the kind of connection, feeling, fun, community and excitement that the Wizards do. I have been around show basketball my whole life, my dad started the Wizards when I was four years old and the Wizard experience is unique in the world…many fans have told us the Wizards show is beyond comparison.” Davis harkened back to the old Avis tag line, “we do try harder, but even more importantly…you will laugh harder at a Wizards show.”

Started in 1962 by New York Sports promoter Howie Davis—he envisioned a show and organization that would put a different spin on show basketball. Fifty years later, the Wizards are an institution, creating awe-inspiring fundraiser events for schools and non-profits in 315 communities and cities in America this season alone. Over $1 million will be raised, while smiles and enthusiasm for the Wizards matches against local teachers, coaches and community leaders will abound.

Since 1962, the Wizards have been making history with the happiness, fun, goodwill and excitement they bring. On Wednesday, March 7, they’ll be bringing that signature comedic flare to Somersworth High School. Featuring local Somersworth teachers and community leaders, this Wizards’ game is bound to be one to remember. Tickets are available for purchase at the SAU #56 Office on West High Street in Somersworth. For more information, contact Somersworth Youth Safe Haven—the recipients of the event proceeds—at 603-692-3976.

Lori Harnois Confirmed To Continue as Director of NH Travel & Tourism Development

CONCORD—

Lori Harnois, of Epsom, was confirmed on February 22 to continue in the position of Director of the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development for another four-year term. The Executive Council voted 5-0 to approve Harnois.

Harnois was named to the position last year to replace Alice DeSouza, who had retired. “Lori has spent almost fifteen years in the tourism industry, including ten as the International and Domestic Marketing Manager of the Division of Travel and Tourism Development,” said George Bald, Commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development. “I am proud of the work she and her staff have done over the last year to help advance tourism in New Hampshire. I look forward to what she will bring to the division and the industry over the next four years,” he added.

Harnois is a 1998 graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Science, Tourism Planning and Development. She has taught tourism courses at Plymouth State University and the New Hampshire Technical Institute as an adjunct professor and was recently appointed to the board of Stay, Work, Play.