Two Williamson County students are among the more than 1,600 black American high school seniors who have been designated semifinalists in the 50th annual National Achievement Scholarship Program.
Frank D. Brown and Obezimnaka C. Boms, both of Ravenwood High School, now have the opportunity to compete for 800 Achievement Scholarship awards worth $2.5 million, being handed out in the spring.
To be considered for an achievement scholarship, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 80 percent of semifinalists are expected to become finalists. The achievement scholarship program is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and is a privately financed academic competition that operates without government assistance. It was initiated in 1964 to recognize black students who excel academically throughout the nation. To date, approximately 32,700 young men and women have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth about $103 million.
To advance to the finalist level in the competition, Brown and Boms must present a record of high academic performance throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm their PSAT/NMSQT performance.
Of the approximately 1,600 semifinalists, about 1,300 are expected to advance to the finalist level. They will be notified of this designation in January.
Corporations, professional organizations, foundations and National Merit Scholarship funds will support the achievement scholarships in 2014. Two types of scholarships will be offered. Every finalist will compete for one of the 700 one-time National Achievement $2,500 Scholarships, which will be awarded on a regional representation basis. In addition, corporate and business sponsors will underwrite about 100 achievement scholarship awards for finalists who meet criteria set by the grantor. Names of scholarship winners will be released in April.
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