Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, including more than 300 Wisconsin students. Oconomowoc High School Seniors Kenneth K. Buschhaus and Joseph Hribar were named semi-finalists in the National Merit Scholarship program.
Less than 1 percent of the 1.5 million students nationwide who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test were awarded semifinalist status.
According to a news release from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, these academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth about $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.
Over 90% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 420 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC's goals of honoring the nation's scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence. Visit www.nationalmerit.org for more information.
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