Seven Olentangy students have qualified as Semifinalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program, giving them a chance to compete for approximately 8,300 scholarships.
The Olentangy students are among approximately 1.5 million high school students across the country that entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Of those entrants, approximately 16,000 high scorers qualify as Semifinalists.
Semifinalists represent the highest scores on the PSAT/NMSQT. Olentangy students named 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists are:
* Tyler C., Olentangy High School (OHS)
* Alexander H., OHS
* Amy L., Olentangy Liberty High School (OLHS)
* Sneha R., Olentangy Orange High School (OOHS)
* Amanda S., OLHS
* Dane S., OOHS
* Robin S., OOHS
In a few weeks, the National Merit Scholarship Program will release its list of approximately 34,000 Commended Students. These students placed among the top 50,000 high scores on the 2011 PSAT/NMSQT but did not achieve Semifinalist status. They will receive letters of commendation in recognition of outstanding academic promise.
In February, the National Merit Scholarship program expects to notify approximately 90% of the 16,000 Semifinalists that they advanced to Finalist status after fulfilling several requirements, including having a record of a high academic achievement in grades nine through 12 and earning a high score on the SAT. Students from this group will compete for $2,500 scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Program, corporate-sponsored scholarships and college-sponsored scholarships. Announcement of scholarship winners will begin in March 2013.
Olentangy’s Commended Students and Semifinalists will be recognized during the Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23 at the district’s administrative offices, 814 Shanahan Road in Lewis Center.
For more information on the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit www.nationalmerit.org.