VALDOSTA —
Lowndes High School senior Alexandra Wang has been named a semifinalist in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.
“It’s a scholarship program that rewards students who excel academically,” said Wang.
Approximately 16,000 semifinalists from across the nation — which only represents less than 1 percent of graduating seniors across the country — were chosen to have the opportunity to compete for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition.
About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2013 running by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as the initial screen of program entrants.
“My PSAT score met the requirement for each state,” said Wang.
To become a finalist, the semifinalists and their high school 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, and honors and awards received.
Wang as well as LHS must have their applications complete by Oct. 10.
From the 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalists level — about 90 percent — in February. More than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
Wang, who currently holds the valedictorian spot at LHS, is the daughter of Jin and Guifen Wang.
“They were really excited and they were really proud, too,” said Wang.
Aside from holding the top academic standing at her school, Wang is involved in Model U.N., the student council, the Young Democrats and Young Republicans, the BETA Club and the National Youth Association.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2013. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 240 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria. In addition, 200 colleges and
universities are expected to finance some 4,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.
Scholarship winners will be announced in the beginning of April and conclude in July. Wang could possibly join more than 291,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
The National Merit Scholarship, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct annual National Merit Scholarship Programs. Scholarships are underwritten by the scholarship with its own funds and approximately 440 business organizations and high education institutions that share the scholarship program’s goal of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
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