Samuel Carrero of Don Tyson School of Innovation and Lucas Foliart of Har-Ber High School have qualified as National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to recognize and honor the nation’s academically talented students through scholarship programs, according to the corporation’s website.
The scholarship program is designed to promote a wider and deeper respect for learning, to shine a spotlight on brilliant students and to encourage the pursuit of academic excellence at all levels of education, according to the website.
The National Merit Scholarship process began when the students took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test in their junior year.
Of the 1.3 million entrants, about 50,000 with the highest PSAT scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program, according to the corporation’s website.
All winners of Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the Finalist group based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments. The Finalist’s academic record, information about the school's curriculum and grading system, the PSAT Selection Index score, the high school official's written recommendation, information about the student's activities and leadership and the Finalist's own essay are all considered to determine if a student is a scholarship winner.
About 16,000 Semifinalists were considered for Finalist standing, according to the National Merit Scholarship website. Some 7,100 Finalists will be notified beginning in March that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award, according to the website. Students who receive Merit Scholarship awards will earn the distinction of being designated as National Merit Scholars.