Local Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

from Our City Miramar: November 2022

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■ SCHOOL NEWS LOCAL STUDENTS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SEMIFINALISTS

Four local students have been named Semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Just 117 students who attend public or private schools in Broward County achieved this honor.

“This is an incredible honor for every student, and we are so proud of each of them for being recognized for their outstanding scores and academic achievements,” said education advocate Sandra Dubose.

The National Merit Scholarship Program was founded to identify and honor scholastically talented American youth and to encourage them to develop their abilities to the fullest. Only 1% of the 1.6 million entrants are selected as Semifinalists each year. The Semifinalists are students who achieve the highest scores on the PSAT/NMSQT in their respective states.

Local semifinalists included:

▸ ▸ ▸ ▸ Rebecca Lim, Pembroke Pines Charter High School Ryan Garcia, West Broward High School Nikash Jakkidi, West Broward High School Taylor Pierson, West Broward High School 7,250 of the Semifinalists go on to win scholarships. The winners are selected on a state-by-state basis and are judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. NMSC winners receive a $2,500 scholarship and the honor of being a Nation Merit Scholar.

In order to become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. Semifinalists must also submit a detailed scholarship application which includes information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, as well as honors and awards received.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2023. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 950 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 180 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2023 will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join nearly 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title. ▸ Learn more about the National Merit Scholarship program and how to apply at www.nationalmerit.org.