LA PLATA, Md. (Oct. 26, 2008)—The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) honored 14 Charles County Public Schools students for their academic success through the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program and the National Achievement Program. Students are considered for the programs when they take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) as high school juniors.
Gavin Reen, a senior at La Plata High School, and Mary Fletcher, a senior from Westlake High School, were chosen as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Reen and Fletcher were chosen as semifinalists out of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2009 National Merit Program. Students are considered for the program when they take the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMST) as high school juniors.
Both Reen and Fletcher, along with 16,000 other semifinalists, have the opportunity to advance to the finalist level and compete for one of 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $35 million, that will be offered next spring. The NMSC also commends and refers students to colleges for their SAT/PSAT performance.
The following students were commended or referred to colleges:
National Merit Scholarship Program
Commended students in the National Merit Scholarship Program are:
-- Sophia Dent, La Plata;
-- Alexander Golding, La Plata;
-- Christie Offenbacher, La Plata;
-- Joseph Frenette, Maurice J. McDonough High School;
-- Travis Finkenauer, North Point High School;
-- Matthew Michela, North Point; and
-- Kimberly Wiman, Westlake High School.
National Achievement Program
National Achievement Program participants referred to colleges are:
-- Amber Lee, North Point;
-- Whitney McArthur, North Point;
-- Randal McKissack, North Point;
-- Matthew Smith, North Point; and
-- Tiphanie Gammon, Westlake.
More than 1.4 million students nationwide entered the Merit Scholarship program. Additionally, 140,000 students entered the Achievement Program.
The NMSC is a non-profit organization that was established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Program. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by NMSC's funds and more than 500 business organizations and other educational institutions with the goal of honoring the nation's scholastic students and the pursuit of academic excellence.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation provides the names of commended and referred students to each school.
Source: Charles County public school system