Patrice Payne '08, Stephanie Krapil '09, Andrea Bustamante '08, Celeste Lindsay '08, Katharine Dobos '08, Mehr Grewal '08, and 2007 graduates Catherine Dang, Caitlin Lang, Grace Nolde, Moiramarie Notarstefano, Christine Nu�ez, Carolyne Hoey, Kim Nguyen, and Pamela Sevilla, have received national academic recognition.  Senior Katharine Dobos earned the distinction of "Semifinalist," and seniors Mehr Grewal and Celeste Lindsay earned the distinction of "Commended Student" in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program.  More than 1.4 million juniors in nearly 21,000 U.S. high schools entered the 2008 National Merit Program, and only 16,000 were chosen as semifinalists and will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for Merit Scholarship awards.  Commended Students placed among the top five percent.  Seniors Andrea Bustamante and Patrice Payne were named Scholars in the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program.  Only 4,000 out of 196,000 students nationwide are recognized by this program as Scholars or Honorable Mention Finalists.  The College Board Advanced Placement Program recognized 12 percent of Connelly's recently graduated class of 2007, plus three current seniors, for outstanding academics.  Current senior, Katharine Dobos, and 2007 Graduate, Grace Nolde, earned the designation of AP Scholar with Distinction.  2007 Graduates Celeste Lindsay, Catherine Dang, Caitlin Lang, Moiramarie Notarstefano and Christine Nu�ez were awarded AP Scholar with Honor.  Connelly junior, Stephanie Krapil, and 2007 Graduates Carolyne Hoey, Kim Nguyen, and Pamela Sevilla received the AP Scholar Award.  The College Board's Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both, for successful performance on the AP Exams.