Feb 18, 2009 -- Four students at The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/Yeshiva University High School for Boys (YUHSB) were named finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program after performing extremely well on their Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Tests (PSAT/NMSQT). They were: New Jersey natives Yosef Kornbluth and Moshe Shulman, of Teaneck and Eli Putterman, of Bergenfield, and Toronto native Aaron Yevick. “These are some of the most gifted students to ever come through the school,” said Dr. Edward Berliner, clinical professor of physics at YU, who teaches calculus and AP physics at YUHSB and directs the new Honors College for gifted students. “They all worked extraordinarily hard to be among the very best students in the country. I was extremely fortunate to have had all four as my students.” The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Awards are given annually to students with the highest PSAT/ NMSQT selection index scores (critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills scores) qualifying them for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Of the approximately 1.5 million entrants from over 21,000 high schools, about 15,000 or less than 1 percent advance to finalists standing. To become a finalist, students must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed by their principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the students’ earlier performance on the qualifying test. The finalists continue in the running for the opportunity to compete for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $35 million, which will be offered next spring. “When I found out I was named a finalist, I felt a great sense of accomplishment,” said Yevick, who praised his school and teachers. “YUHSB has always helped me pursue my academic goals. My teachers, particularly Dr. Berliner, have always given me the opportunity and the motivation I needed to excel.” “I was very excited when I found out I was named a finalist,” said Shulman, who aspires to pursue a degree in math or science and join the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva College. “It is truly a great honor to receive this award.”