Nine LSMSA students progress as finalists in National Merit Scholarship Program

Students are: Cera Aex, Thibodaux; AnaLaysha Burgess-Collazo, Jeanerette; Paige Delsa, Mandeville; Eve Goodwin, Mandeville; Mary Hutson, Pineville; Allison Johnson, Lake Charles; Victoria McMillan, St. Francisville; Aubrey Prewitt, Mangham; Jalen Xia, Gretna. 

 

“The Louisana School would not be the same without these brilliant students,” said Lead Counselor Leah Lentz. “These seniors have shown steadfast determination while balancing high expectations and rigorous studies and progression in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation competition, all during a global pandemic. These students have shown incredible perseverance and willingness to learn and grow in extraordinary circumstances. We are fortunate to have you in our community and representing LSMSA.”

 

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay.

 

"Annually, the National Merit Scholarship recognizes students who have excelled in various ways academically,” said Director of Academic Services Dr. Kristi Key. “Our nine finalists offer a cross section of academic excellence, from Music to Computer Science, from Athletics to Campus Leadership and all points in between. As a campus we want to celebrate the individual and the communal aspects of this recognition. I'm excited for the additional opportunities that will be afforded these students in their university studies and beyond."

 

Over 15,000 of the 16,000 Semifinalists named in September 2020 met all requirements to advance as finalists and compete for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million, which will be offered in the spring of 2021.

 

Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 competition by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) as an initial screening procedure. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

 

“We are beyond thrilled that nearly 10% of our seniors have progressed as finalists and now have a chance to earn one of these prestigious scholarships,” said Dr. Steve Horton, Executive Director of LSMSA. “The excellence and resilience that LSMSA students show have always been impressive and we’re proud of all our Eagles.”

 

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 400 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.