Central Senior, Nathan Panning, has accomplished something not many kids in the nation can accomplish. Nathan is a semi-finalist for the National Merit Scholarship.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.
About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official 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, employment,
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® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation offers a variety of opportunities for high school students from across the country. It is largely based on your child’s PSAT/NMSQT test results, so completing the exam is essential. This test is typically given during your student’s junior year in high school, so this is a merit scholarship requirement that can be completed well before they intend to go to college.
Competition for the awards is fierce, as the organization receives around 1.6 million applications every year. But, it is considered a very prestigious award, so it is generally worth applying to.
Congratulations Nathan!