Two Souderton Area High School seniors are among the top 16,000 students nationwide to be named National Merit Finalists in the 2007 National Merit Competition of the Nation Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Sarah Jane Conner, Harleysville, has spent a significant amount of time during her three years at SAHS serving as secretary to the Key Club and participating in student government and National Honor Society. Sarah Jane volunteers once a week at the Boys and Girls Club to tutor elementary students in the homework help room. A self-declared history buff, Sarah Jane likes learning about past events and hopes to major in history in college. As a 16th birthday present, Sarah Jane traveled to Rome with her father and combined that experience with the study of Ancient Roman architecture as the topic of her graduation project. Of her time spent at the high school, Sarah Jane says she has had a lot of great classes and teachers that always seem to find a way to make their subject area very interesting. Her advice to new students is to take advantage of all the opportunities available at the high school in order to make the most of the time spent there. Sarah Jane is an avid reader and works part-time as a cashier at Henning's Supermarket. She is the daughter of Debra and Bernie Fulcher and Gary Conner.

Brian Peddie, Harleysville, is acknowledged with having the highest male voice at the high school and is involved in all things musical. He sings Tenor I with the Concert, Advanced, and Show Choirs. Brian is a member of the high school's International Thespian Society and has participated in district musicals over the past seven years either acting or assisting behind the scenes. He is appearing in a minor role in the high school's performance of Peter Pan this March and has choreographed the fencing scenes. Brian takes voice and piano lessons and also a lifeguard and swimming instructor at the Indian Valley Y. He one of six interns with Students Against Violating the Earth (SAVE) and is organizing a student environmental summit as his winter project. Brian plans to attend college after high school with a possible double major in science and theatre arts. He was inspired in the field of biological research after attending a week at the National Youth Leadership Forum at Villanova and says that sparked his interest in med school. Brian is the son of Tom and Pat Peddie.

Also recognized for their outstanding academic performance as commended students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation are Ben Bruen, Kayleigh Trumbore, and Keith Leitmeyer; they are acknowledged as being among the top 36,000 seniors in the country.

The SASD school board, administrators, and teachers are very proud of these students and their prestigious achievement.