National Merit Scholar semifinalists named

The names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 53rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program were announced recently by officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth $34 million, that will be offered next spring.

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

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Program.

The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state's percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier qualifying test performance.

The semifinalist and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student's self-descriptive essay and information about the semifinalist's participation and leadership in school and community activities.

Merit Scholarship winners of 2008 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join some 250,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

Local semifinalists

• Barrington: Samuel E. Barnett, Myken R. Bomberger, Claudia E. Hochstein, Lauren M. Janas, Melody Lee, Brian P. Lin, Ben Redpath, Robert A. Schramm, Lisa M. Shandley, Roland W. Solinski, Katherine L. Woodrow, all of Barrington Community High School.

• Batavia: Evan P. Czerwonka, Batavia High School.

Burlington: Erin A. Kelsey, Burlington Central High School.

• Crystal Lake: Alexander J. Alleavitch, Laura R. Catherwood, John D. Toole, all of Crystal Lake Central High School.

Christopher M. Golden, Alison M. Schaefer, both of Crystal Lake South High School.

Robert M. Curtis, Prairie Ridge High School.

Elgin: Daniel J. Vecchiolla, Elgin Academy.

Margaret L. Hernon, Elgin High School.

John W. Rot, Paula J. Rusenovich, both of Larkin High School.

• Geneva: Terence O'Connor, Geneva Community High School.

• Huntley: Jacob C. Walker, Robert W. Wascher, both of Huntley High School.

• Woodstock: Theresa R. Reckamp of Marian Central Catholic High School.