Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation today announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Several local students are among the semifinalists, including Adam M. Darr, NorthWood, Nappanee; Christopher P. Hastings and Zachary B. Stichter, both of Warsaw Community High School, Warsaw. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth about $35 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. In February, semifinalists will be notified if they’ve advanced to the finalist level. 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 Scholarship winners of 2014 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 300,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
