NEW ROCHELLE, NY -The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has named the following students Semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program (pictured below l-r): Eli Sills, Taylor Ullrich, Oliver Hughes, Rebecca Meisler, Sammy Stone and Gabrielle Altman.
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All of these seniors ranked in the top one percent of the 1.5 million high school juniors who took the qualifying test a year ago. More than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
From Albemarle High School, the students are Wesley Daugherty, Selena Feng, Alexander Herrick, Cole Martin and Sarah Skrutskie.
The number of students selected for the program per state is based on the percentage of graduating seniors from that state within the national graduating class.
The next step of the competition for the students requires the semifinalists to submit an application, which includes academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors/awards received. Students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies are recognized as National Merit Semifinalists.
“I fully expect all 13 of our semifinalists to become National Scholarship finalists”, Koenings said.
The students must also provide an essay, a recommendation from a high school official and evidence they have earned grades that confirm their Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test performance level. They are eligible to be selected as finalists early next year and as Merit Scholars in the spring. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. In addition, about 190 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,900 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.
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National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced between April and July, 2016.
