Local Students Recognized as National Merit Semifinalists

Many local students have something to be proud of after the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Wednesday that 157 students in Montgomery County Public Schools are National Merit Scholarship semifinalists in the 2011 competition—an increase of 8 semifinalists from the 2010 competition.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognized 13 students from Winston Churchill High School and 15 students from Thomas S. Wootton High School as semifinalists. Students from 14 other MCPS high schools received recognition as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

"We are hugely gratified and proud of so many of our student for being recognized for the prestigious national award," said MCPS spokesperson, Lesli Maxwell. "This shows the quality of rigorous instruction that is given here across all grade levels."

National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognized seniors who scored well on the 2009 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which they took junior year. The nationwide pool of about 16,000 semifinalists represents less than one percent of high school seniors in the United States, according to the corporation's website.

Semifinalists have the chance to become National Merit Scholarship recipients based on their skills, accomplishments and potential for success at college. The 2,500 National Merit Scholarship recipients will receive $2,500.

Last year, MCPS had 62 National Merit Scholarship winners and hopefully this year there will be even more because of the additional semifinalists, Maxwell said.

"The students really score well because they are well prepared," Maxwell said. "Teachers should get a ton of credit for the success because they deliver the instruction students need to do well."

Churchill, which had two more semifinalists compared to last year, is holding a reception for the students on Monday morning at the school, said director of counseling services, Beverly Oubenetski.

"The kids take the PSAT very seriously and practice for it using the practice materials," Oubenetski said. "The environment here during the PSAT is very serious because parents and staff put a lot of emphasis on it."