2013-14 National Merit Semi-Finalists

Congratulations to the following students for their recognition as National Merit Semi-Finalists for the 2013-14 school year:

Anna Applegate, Matthew Bilberry, Benjamin Brannon, Robert Brockel, Kyle Cox, Mark Howard, Grant Reed, Hannah Simpson, Reid Simpson (not pictured), Kegan Skinner, and Caleb Southard.

Students' scores on the PSAT/NMSQT qualify them for this prestigious recognition for their outstanding academic achievement.

The University of Arkansas presented each semi-finalists with the Chancellors Scholarship. Each scholarship is for $8,000 a year for four years totaling $32,000.  If the students achieve National Merit Finalist status, and make the University of Arkansas their first choice, they will receive the Chancellor's Merit Scholarship and an extra $2,000 a year is added. Presenting each student with this scholarship was Chelsea Hodge, Assistant Director for recruiting at the University of Arkansas' Honor's College.

About 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state.

NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist