Two JHS Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

Joplin High School seniors Christina Funke and Cort VanOstran have been named Semifinalists in the 52nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The students are among approximately 16,000 scholastically talented high school seniors nationwide who will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth $33 million, that will be offered next spring.

“We are very proud of both Christina and Cort for the commitment to their education and how they represent Joplin High School,” says JHS Principal, Dr. Kerry Sachetta. “They are both fine young adults who exemplify hard work, dedication, and a strict attention to their goals.”

Along with 1.4 million other students across the country, Christina and Cort entered the 2007 National Merit Program as high school juniors by taking the 2005 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 US high school seniors – includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalists level of the competition by fulfilling several requirements. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar title. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

More information about the National Merit Scholarship Program can be found at www.nationalmerit.org.

(posted 09/13/06)