ST. LOUIS, MO, October 10, 2011 – The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has named the semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship and the National Achievement Scholarship. SLPS is proud to recognize five students whose academic achievements warrant a place in the scholarship competition.

National Merit Scholarship

About 1.5 million juniors from 22,000 high schools across the country entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.  The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists from SLPS are:

·         Thomas Fliss, Metro Academic and Classical High School

·         Zara Graves, Metro Academic and Classical High School

·         Rachel Mayberry, Metro Academic and Classical High School

To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. The Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s essay and information about the Semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.

National Achievement Scholarship

More than 1,600 Black high school seniors have been designated Semifinalists in the 48th annual National Achievement Scholarship Program. Over 160,000 high school juniors from all parts of the United States requested consideration in the 2012 National Achievement Scholarship Program when they took the 2010 Preliminary sat/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

The National Achievement Scholarship Semifinalists from SLPS are:

·         Remy Gates, Metro Academic and Classical High School

·         Donald Woodson, Metro Academic and Classical High School

To advance to the Finalist level in the National Achievement Scholarship competition, Semifinalists must present a record of high academic performance throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm their Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test performance.  In addition, the Semifinalist and a high school official must complete a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the student’s participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and educational goals.

Conclusion

Finalists for the National Merit Scholarship will be announced in February, and National Achievement Scholarship will be announced in January. Scholarship winners from both competitions will be named in April.  For more information please contact the Office of Public Information (314) 345-2367.

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