LA PLATA, Md. (October 19, 2011)—The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently honored 11 Charles County Public Schools students for their academic success through the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program and National Achievement Program. Westlake High School senior Felicia Dillard was named as a semifinalist in the National Achievement Program.
Dillard is one of 1,600 nationwide high school students eligible to compete for 800 achievement scholarship awards, worth more than $2.4 million. Students are considered for the program when they take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT) as high school juniors.
Semifinalists are designated within geographic regions and are the highest-scoring program entrants in the states that make up specific regions. A total of 1,300 semifinalists will advance to the finalist level. Finalists are selected for high academic performance and SAT scores, principal recommendation, and student and community leadership activities. Finalists will be announced later this year. The NMSC also commends and refers students to colleges for their SAT/PSAT performance and potential for academic success.
Commended students in the National Merit Scholarship Program are:
-- Cayley Dymond, North Point High School;
-- Ian Egland, North Point;
-- Natalie Griffin, North Point; and
-- Connor Roberts, North Point.
National Achievement Program Outstanding participants referred to colleges are:
-- Dylan Higgins, La Plata High School;
-- Alexus Adams, North Point;
-- Kevin Ramseur, North Point;
-- Driana Watson, North Point;
-- Raymond Johnson, Thomas Stone High School; and
-- Misha Stone; Westlake.
More than 1.5 million students nationwide entered the Merit Scholarship program. Additionally, 160,000 students nationwide entered the National 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