Six students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists.
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. recently announced the names of the Finalists after more than 16,000 Semifinalists for the 68th annual national Merit Scholarship Program in the fall of 2022. The students who are all members of the Class of 2023 will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be announced this spring and summer.
The ASMSA seniors named Finalists are:
- Eliana Adamos of Harrison;
- Robert Boerwinkle of El Dorado;
- Mason Cooper of Conway;
- Savanna Duey of Camden;
- Cecil Mitchell of Belleville; and
- Charis Xiong of White Hall.
To be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program, students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as a junior. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of anticipated graduating seniors.
Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalists standing, including a detailed scholarship application that includes information about a Semifinalists academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. It was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in four batches beginning in April 2023 and concluding in July 2023.