On Sept. 11, officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship (NMS) Program. Kayla Clendinen and Portia Norkaitis, both high school seniors at V.I. Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy on St. Thomas, were among the semifinalists named in the 2014 NMS Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 scholarships worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring. This program intends to honor students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
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 more than half of the finalists will win a scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual NMS program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 440 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
For more information about the competition, visit NMSC’s Web site at www.nationalmerit.org. To contact Erika Gomez, director of admission and marketing at the VI Montessori School, call 775-6360.