News Detail

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (FEBRUARY 14, 2023) — Williamsport Area High School senior Ben Manetta has been named a finalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Manetta is one of more than 15,000 finalists who will be considered for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships. Winners will be notified beginning in March. 

Manetta’s academic course load includes a full slate of honors courses, such as AP Latin, AP Physics, AP Studio Art, AP English Literature, AP U.S. History and AP Psychology. He’s a member of the WAHS concert and jazz bands. An oboist, he performed in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Wind Ensemble last year. He’s also on the tennis team, serves on his class executive board and participates in Model UN.

In March, he’ll be recognized as an Outstanding Student at the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce’s annual Education Celebration.

In the community, he’s a volunteer EMT, a member of the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra, plays the piano and organ at two churches, teaches piano lessons, and organized a Make-a-Wish benefit concert last fall. He also works as a part-time server at Filippo’s in South Williamsport.

Recently, he’s been accepted into Harvard University, where he plans to study Biology.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by the corporation with its own funds and by about 340 business organizations and higher education institutions that share the corporation’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

###

Pictured: WAHS senior Ben Manetta displays his Certificate of Merit that he received from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a token of his finalist standing.