Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation have announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 59th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. From Voorhees High School, semifinalists are Brian Bigdelle, Samuel DeFabrizio and Christina Dornbusch. From North Hunterdon High School, semifinalists are Trevor Edwards, Jendayi Jones, Cecilia Luciano, Emily Parker and Angela Yang.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth about $35 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 more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2014. 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, about 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,500 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution. National Merit Scholarship winners of 2014 will be announced at the beginning of April.