In mid-september, two south students were elected as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists (NMS). After taking and placing on the preliminary scholastic assessment test (PSAT), both seniors, Anna Schwartz and Will Ibele scored Minnesota’s standard, 215 out of 240,  thus selecting them to become National Merit semifinalist.

Each year around 16,000 students are elected as NMS. To become  a National Merit Scholar semifinalist you must be a U.S. citizen/intended U.S. citizen, enrolled full time in high school, taking or have taken the PSAT your junior year, and carry a strong academic record. You must also complete the NMSC Scholarship application.  Ible and Schwartz’s eligibility means they are both qualified for scholarships. About half of the semifinalist win scholarships.

“Now that I’m a semifinalist,”  Ibele commented  “I (will) go through a scholarship application process, and that will determine if I become a finalist.”  Both applicants must go through this process, which involves submitting an essay and sending in transcripts.

“If I get it,” Ibele hopes,  “I basically get a 1,000 or 2,000 dollar per year scholarship from wherever I go.”