Connelly seniors (pictured l-r) Christine Yost, Giuliana Cefalu, Morgan Turner, Jamie Shea, Shauna Stewart, Stephanie Krapil, Krista Engle, and 2008 graduates (not pictured) Claire Burgess, Katharine Dobos, Mehr Grewal, Celeste Lindsay, Astrid Melgar, Lindsay Orr, Patrice Payne, Rachel Sanchez, Louise Santos, Kailea Spitaleri, Karly Stark, and Sara Swanson, have received national academic recognition.  Seniors Shauna Stewart and Christine Yost earned the distinction of "Semifinalist," and senior Jamie Shea earned the distinction of "Commended Student" in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program.  More than 1.5 million high school juniors entered the 2009 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 Giuliana Cefalu and Krista Engle 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.  Senior Morgan Turner earned recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a 2009 National Achievement Outstanding Participant.  The College Board Advanced Placement Program recognized 16 percent of Connelly's recently graduated class of 2008, plus three current seniors, for outstanding academics.  Current seniors Shauna Stewart and Christine Yost, and 2008 Graduates Claire Burgess, Krista Engle, Mehr Grewal, Lindsay Orr, Rachel Sanchez, Kailea Spitaleri, Karly Stark and Sara Swanson earned the AP Scholar Award; 2008 Graduates Astrid Melgar and Louise Santos earned AP Scholar with Honor; Current senior Stephanie Krapil, and 2008 Graduates Celeste Lindsay and Patrice Payne earned AP Scholar with Distinction; and 2008 Graduate Katharine Dobos earned the highest honor, AP National Scholar.  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.