Eliza A. Hopkins, a senior at Buffalo Seminary, has been named a 2013 National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winner. A member of both the National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society, Eliza has distinguished herself as a High Honors student throughout her tenure at Sem. With this most recent honor, she joins an elite group of nationwide high school scholars.

According to an official announcement from the National Merit Scholarship Corp., Eliza was chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. Finalists in each state were judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Holy Angels Academy Finance Committee met with a group of parents Monday night to discuss what it would take to keep the school open.

That group, the Save Holy Angels Committee, presented a plan based on parent and alumnae pledges that would seek to raise around $2.5 million by mid-June to keep the school afloat.

Two weeks ago, Holy Angels announced it would close at the end of this school year due to financial difficulties and reduced enrollment.

Members of the committee say they are optimistic, but there's no word yet on whether the Holy Angels Board of Trustees has made a decision on the plan.

The Board of Trustees did not comment Monday night.