Six NRHS Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

That means they are among 16,000 seniors who will continue vying for 7,400 scholarships given out by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

All finalists are eligible to receive scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship, the colleges and universities that sponsor the awards, or business that sponsor the awards.

The Albemarle County Public Schools district says 11 high school seniors have been picked as National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists for 2016.

Finalists will be announced in February.

Five students from Albemarle High School, Wesley Daugherty, Selena Feng, Alexander Herrick, Cole Martin, and Sarah Skrutskie, are 2016 semi-finalists, as are three students from Monticello High School, Kelly Bao, Caroline Fernandez, and Peter Tegethoff, and three students from Western Albemarle High School, Isabella Ferrnandez, Sophie Salomon, and Lillian Xu. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

The application must include the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. The National Merit Scholarship Program honors “students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies”.

The students must also provide an essay, a recommendation from a high school official and evidence they have earned grades that confirm their Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test performance level.

Morgan has attended Runnels School since the third grade and was named a 2015 national AP scholar.

“Every year, we look forward to seeing which of our students will earn national recognition for their academic achievements”, said Dave Lewis, long-standing assistant principal at CC.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2016 will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.