Four local high school seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists.
The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
Oldenburg Academy students Daniel Mullen, Gabrielle Mungcal, Tabitha Shenk and Franklin County senior Mitchell Edwards were among the 16,000 students selected nationwide.
They have earned an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $35 million that will be offered next spring.
To become finalists, the students and the high school must submit detailed scholarship applications and provide information about their academic records, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and honors and awards received.
About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.
