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LMHS students recognized by National Merit program

Posted on: September 30, 2017
Photo of Sarah Priesler

LMHS senior Sarah Preisler

Three outstanding students from Little Miami High School were recently recognized by the 2018 National Merit Scholarship program.

Senior Sarah Preisler was named a National Merit semifinalist, and seniors Rachel Agricola and Coy Smearsoll were named National Merit commended students.

Officials of Nation Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition.

About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

Photo of agricola and smearsoll

LMHS seniors Rachel Agricola and Coy Smearsoll

About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

A National Merit commended student does not move on in the competition for Merit Scholarship awards. However, these students scores place them in the 96th percentile of college-bound seniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT.