NICEVILLE, Fla.- Last month, the National Merit Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of over 16,000 high school students who have been selected as semifinalists in the 68th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Among those chosen were NWFSC Collegiate High School students Aiden Black, Alana Davis, and Serapia Silva.

The NMSC is a non-profit organization that honors the nation’s scholastic champions and encourages the pursuit of academic excellence. With the support of 340 businesses, colleges, and universities, NMSC is granting nearly $28 million in scholarships to students wishing to pursue higher education opportunities. 

The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. As semifinalists, students will remain in the running to receive some of the 7,250 National Merit Scholarships that will be awarded next spring. Merit Scholars are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. To be considered as a finalist, the students must maintain an outstanding academic record and earn a superlative SAT or ACT score. Approximately 95% of the semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level, and 50% will win a National Merit Scholarship and the title of Merit Scholar.

“We are extremely proud of Aiden, Alana, and Serapia for this prestigious achievement, as it is a great indicator of their academic excellence and dedication to their studies. Regardless of the outcome, we are confident that our students will continue to succeed in their academic endeavors and achieve great things as they pursue their career goals,” said Northwest Florida State College President Dr. Devin Stephenson. “The Collegiate High School at NWFSC will continue to shape all of the bright individuals that walk its halls as it provides them with free tuition and books, specialized fields of study, transferrable college credits, and innovative programs that prepare them for a successful career after high school.”

The 2023 Merit Scholars will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April 2023. The scholars will join nearly 368,000 distinguished individuals who have earned the Merit Scholar title. For more information on the National Merit Scholarship Program, please visit nationalmerit.org. 

To learn more about the Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College, please visit chs.nwfsc.edu or contact Dr. Sandy Arteaga, Interim Dean of College Pathways and Principal of Collegiate High School, at 850-729-4949 or collegiatehs@nwfsc.edu.