Two SAHS students named National Merit Semifinalists

Two Stillwater Area High School students are semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Adeline Foote and Ryan Potter are among 16,000 students from across the country who will go on to compete for some 7,500 scholarships that will be awarded in the spring.

According to the scholarship program, about 95 percent of students will make it to the finalist round, and about half of all finalists will win a scholarship.

There are three different types of scholarships awarded in the spring as part of the program, including scholarships financed by corporations and colleges. The scholarships total $30 million.

The program says semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn either an SAT or ACT score that confirms their earlier performance on the qualifying test.

To make it to the finalist stage, students have to submit details about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities and more.