National Merit Scholars

Como Park seniors Sophie Warner and Kai Sackreiter have earned the prestigious honor of being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. With elite academic credentials and exceptional scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, Warner and Sackreiter achieved recognition obtained by less than 1% of high school students nationwide.
The two Como classmates will pursue finalist status and seek to win a National Merit Scholarship award. To do so, they must fulfill several requirements including submitting a detailed scholarship application with recommendations and an original essay.
Warner is a leader in the Como Robotics program and competes in three sports. She is a captain on the girls’ swimming team, a captain for Nordic skiing, and has lettered in track and field since her freshman year.
Warner serves as a lifeguard at the YMCA, a ski instructor for the city, and is the student associate working in Como’s Hiway Credit Union branch.
Academically, she is an AP Scholar with multiple AP Exams passed at Como. Her PSEO coursework (Post-Secondary Enrollment Options) at the U of M and St. Paul College will allow her to graduate from Como in 2024 while also earning an Associate of Arts degree from St. Paul College.
She’s considering several schools for the fall of 2024 with plans to pursue a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.
Going into his senior year, Sackreiter has already earned the highest scores possible on six different AP Exams ranging from calculus to biology and social studies courses. The College Board named him an AP Scholar with Distinction. He’s continuing AP courses this year at Como while also taking PSEO college classes.
Sackreiter is a talented and determined swimmer who first qualified for the state meet as a freshman and repeated as a sophomore and junior. He will captain the boys team this winter with high expectations for both fun and success. A swimmer year-round, Sackreiter is part of the Minnesota Flyers club team and serves as a lifeguard in St. Paul. He also is a student manager for the Como girls swim team and helps with coaching.
Another notable academic achievement for Sackreiter was producing a website for History Day as a freshman. His group won second place at state and qualified for the National History Day competition.
Add to that his musical gifts and piano awards through the Minnesota Music Teachers Association contests and it’s clear to see Kai Sackreiter balances his skills in academics, athletics, and the arts quite effectively.
Como’s class of 2024 includes many motivated and talented individuals who are making the most of their educational opportunities. Sophie Warner and Kai Sackreiter are a couple of shining examples who have certainly earned the honor of becoming National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.