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Community Corner

Pranav Maganti Makes Brilliant Look Easy

Chatham resident advances to finals in rigorous academic program.

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kids honoree.

Each week, Chatham Patch seeks suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments.

Here's this week's selection:

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Whiz Kid of the Week: Pranav Maganti

  • Whiz Kid's Major Activity: National Merit Finalist, National AP Scholar
  • Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center: The Pingry School
  • Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Along with 10 other Pingry seniors, Pranav has been named a finalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program. The program honors students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Approximately 8,400 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, will be offered this spring. To enter the 2011 program, students took the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)—the national pool of semifinalists included the highest-scoring entrants in each state. To advance to the finals, a semifinalist must have demonstrated an outstanding academic record throughout high school, been endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earned SAT scores that confirmed the earlier qualifying test. The scholarship application included information about the student’s participation and leadership in school and community activities. 

Pranav's  favorite subject is economics, which he plans to study at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he has been accepted.

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His favorite extracurricular activity is Quizbowl. "I've been involved with Quizbowl since the ninth grade, and have always enjoyed it. I guess that might have something to do with my love of knowledge and facts," Pranav said.

  • Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: "The key to academic success is a love of learning. I don't think I'd be as interested in school if it weren't for my love of learning, which my parents definitely played a part in developing. I'm indebted to them, because I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now without their guidance."
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