Students from four Charleston County School District high schools were announced as Semifinalists for the 2017 National Merit Scholarship.

NMSC officials 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.

Congratulations to the following 2017 CCSD Semifinalists:

Academic Magnet

Christopher E. Diamond-Hettinger

Thomas V. Feingold

Olive K. Gardner

Benjamin J. Holmes

Martyn B. Lemon

Charlotte A. Lucas

Katherine M. Moseley

Anna F. Tavormina

William R. Tonks

Kerri L. Wong

School of the Arts

Evan E. Oates

Wando High

Gabrielle W. Blackburn

Thomas Blyth

Oscar Garcia

Lia T. Hsu-Rodriguez

Peyton S. McKellips

Samuel J. Packard

Matthew F. Pitts

Hunter R. Ross

Justin E. Taylor

Noah W. Wright

West Ashley High

James B. Altman

“These seniors are being recognized for their demonstrated exemplary academic skills and abilities,” said CCSD Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait. “The District shares in the tremendous pride their families, friends, and school have for their achievements.”

About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. 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, the Semifinalist and his or her high school 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, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

2017 National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.