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From left, Medway High School Principal Dr. John Murray, Commended Student Willem Khoo, Commended Student Katherine Jordan, Semifinalist Riley Ashok, Commended Student Sophie Heiden and Commended Student Annabelle Hazell. (Photo courtesy Medway Public Schools)
Superintendent Armand Pires and Medway High School Principal Dr. John Murray are pleased to announce that senior Riley Ashok has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Four additional seniors have been named commended students.
Ashok is among more than 16,000 semifinalists recognized in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Those identified as semifinalists can continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, which will be offered next spring.
Riley Ashok - Semifinalist
Ashok is involved in several clubs at Medway High School, including Model United Nations, Women in STEM, Robotics and Book Club. She also serves as the secretary of the Science Olympiad Club and treasurer of International Thespian Society Drama. After school, she spends time studying in the Medway Mandarin Program, and she studies Calculus 3 at MassBay Community College. Outside of Ashok's school academics, she plays piano and the cello. She also enjoys horseback riding, embroidery and learning different languages.
In addition to her recognition as a semifinalist, Ashok has won many awards, including the Royal Conservatory of Music Piano State Certificate, a Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair Bronze Medal, Science Olympiad States Bronze Medal, Scholastic Writing Awards Gold Key and the Rensselaer Medal.
Following high school, Ashok plans to attend a four-year college to pursue degrees in mathematics, physics and linguistics.
"In college, I would love to travel and really practice the language skills that I have studied by myself," Ashok said. "I hope to complete a Ph.D. in theoretical quantum mechanics and to get a job in the field. Later in life, after my career, I would love to become a professor of quantum physics at a university."
National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students
The four commended students are recognized for their exceptional academic promise demonstrated by scoring among the 50,000 highest scorers nationwide on the 2023 Preliminary/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. They will receive letters of commendation from the district, and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program.
The four Medway High School seniors recognized as commended students include:
Annabelle Hazell
Hazell is a member of the National Honors Society and the National Spanish Honors Society. She plays soccer, as well as indoor and outdoor track. In her academics, she is an Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar with Distinction. Outside of school, Hazell volunteers at the local food pantry and also works at the MetroWest YMCA as a camp counselor in the summer months. Hazell plans to continue her education after high school studying aerospace engineering and economics at a university.
Sophie Heiden
Heiden serves as the president of the Model United Nations and the Women in STEM clubs at Medway High. Additionally, she is a member of the Book Club and the 533 Club. Heiden is a member of the National Honors Society and is also involved in the Health Care Innovations Pathway Program. She is captain of the cross country team and indoor tack team. During the winter months, Heiden works as a ski instructor. Following high school, Heiden plans to study biology and pre-med in college and then continue her education in medical school.
Katherine Jordan
Jordan participates in the 533 Club and is part of the Spanish Honors Society. She has received several academic awards in Spanish, English and social studies. Jordan also volunteers as a tutor through an online program with Medway High School. After high school, Jordan plans on studying mathematics in college.
Willem Khoo
Khoo is a member of the Science Olympiad Club, as well as the Robotics Club at Medway High. He serves as the vice president of the National Honors Society and is his class treasurer. Khoo has received recognition as an AP Scholar with Distinction. He has also been awarded the Boston University Book Award and the National Latin Exam Maxima Cum Laude Award. He plays cross country, indoor track and tennis at Medway High. Following high school, Khoo plans to study computer science or computer engineering in college.
Since its founding, NMSC has recognized over 3.4 million students and provided some 451,000 scholarships worth over $1.8 billion. The honors awarded by NMSC to exceptionally able students are viewed as definitive marks of excellence. Recipients of Merit Scholarship® awards, Achievement Scholarship® awards, and corporate-sponsored Special Scholarships have increased the nation’s respect for intellectual accomplishments and have contributed significantly to its talent pool of future leaders.
