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| AHS Head of School Michael Ackerman congratulates Tucker Leavitt, Class of 2013 on his selection as Durango's only 2013 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. |
(Evanston, Illinois) Today officials of
National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of
approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 58th annual National Merit
Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an
opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit
Scholarships worth more than $32 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. About
90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and
more than 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
440 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.
Animas
High School is honored to announce the selection of Tucker Leavitt, Class of
2013, as an NMSC Semi-finalist. Tucker’s scholastic efforts and his commitment
to academic excellence make him an excellent selection. As Durango’s only
semifinalist this year, we are excited that Animas High School and our
community are represented by such an upstanding and inspirational young
scholar. Tucker is the son of Holly Shure and Richard Leavitt of Durango, CO.
Steps in the 2013 Competition
About 1.5 million juniors in more
than 22,000 high schools entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program by
taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The
nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S.
high school seniors, includes the highest- scoring entrants in each state. The
number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of
the national total of graduating seniors.
To become a Finalist, the
Semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship
application in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic
record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated
leadership abilities, and honors and awards received. 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 scores that
confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
From the approximately 16,000
Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level and
in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit
Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit
Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments,
and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to
gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
National Merit Scholarships
Three types of National Merit
Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2013. Every Finalist will compete
for one of 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a
state representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship
awards will be provided by approximately 240 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 200 colleges and universities are
expected to finance some 4,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for
Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.
National Merit Scholarship winners
of 2013 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April
and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than
291,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar
title.
For more information about the competition, please visit NMSC’s
website at www.nationalmerit.org.
