National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Announced

There's just one more hurdle for those on the semi-finalist list for the prestigious National Merit Scholarship and students at La Jolla, Patrick Henry, Scripps Ranch and University City high schools are hoping they make the grade for a college scholarship that can be worth $2,500 or more.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and honors and awards received, according to the scholarship's organizer, the National Merit Scholarship Organization.

On the semifinalist list from San Diego Unified are the following students. La Jolla High: Lydia A. Chim, Michaela A. Diercks, Marian Dorst, Patrick J. Eisen, Kathleen Fan, Oliva Y. Gu, Sarah D. Herrmann, Zoe Kleinfield and Marissa C. Nienberg. Patrick Henry High: Amy L. Morrison. Scripps Ranch High School: Fabian K. Boemer, Karli R. Holman, Alwin H. Hui, Jim Liu, Mark R. Saddler, Kenneth Xu. University City High School: Tyler A. Davis, Yvonne Shieh, Alexander C. Wu.

A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn sat scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists across the country, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level and in February they will be notified of this designation.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2013. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 240 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located.

In addition, about 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution. National Merit Scholarship winners of 2013 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 291,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.