In September, officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), from Evanston, Illinois, announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 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 about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
Gillian Peraza, a senior at Mater Lakes Academy, was named a semi-finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program, the first for a student at Mater Lakes. Peraza has been a student at Mater Lakes since she was in 6th grade and has been a straight “A” student every semester.
Peraza has received perfect scores in previous years in the statewide assessments. She is also enrolled in dual-enrollment courses and is set to not only graduate with a high school diploma in June, but with her Associates in Arts from Miami-Dade College.
The Mater Lakes Academy faculty and staff congratulated Peraza on this accomplishment and wish her the best of luck as she continues in the process of competing to become a National Merit Scholarship finalist.
National Merit Scholarships winners of 2017 will be announced in four nationwide news release beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 323,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.