National Merit Finalists are selected from a pool of 16,000 semi-finalists. Semi-finalists are selected from 1.6 million high school juniors who entered the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The nationwide pool of finalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
To become a Finalist, the Semifinalists and their 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.
Swanz is a member of the Mustangs soccer team, National Honor Society, HOSA, Beta Club, Co-president of the prayer group, and a cast member of the MCHS Broadway Musical, Newsies. She attended the Governor’s Scholar Program at Murray State University in the summer of 2018.
Woodard is a member of the Academic team, Future Problem-Solving team, President of the Beta Club, President of FBLA, Vice President of Student Government, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She attended the Governor’s Scholar Program at Murray State University in the summer of 2018.
