Lower Dauphin High School senior Abigail Foran was recently named a National Merit finalist and was awarded a National Merit $2,500 scholarship.

Abigail, the daughter of Donna and Joseph Foran, was named Student of the Month for being active in her school and community. She is active in Lower Dauphin's theater program, performing in all four fall plays, spring musicals and Dramapalooza events during her career. As a senior, she played Queen Elizabeth I in the play "Love, Liz" and was Cinderella in the musical "Into the Woods." She earned an Apollo award her junior year and had another Apollo nomination and an honorable mention. She is also nominated for this year's musical as outstanding leading actress.

She is a four-year member of the school's choir program and has advanced to both district and regional honor choirs and serves as a student-intern in the middle school choir program this year. Abigail is the president and a four-year member of both the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Thespian Society. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, English National Honor Society and National French Honor Society. Abigail is a four-year member of Class Council and volunteers at Hershey Gardens. She plans to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts and major in musical theater.

In September, she was named semifinalist in the National Merit program. To receive a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition.

About 95% of the semifinalists attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists win a National Merit Scholarship.