Click here for Microsoft Word version of this press release

Three Savannah-Chatham County Public School System seniors from Savannah Arts Academy have been named 2009 National Merit ® Scholarship Program Semifinalists. Andrew Zhang, Sean C. McGlohon and Lacey S. Williams, are three of eight students from both public and private schools in Chatham County to be selected.  

National Merit® Scholarship Program Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis; they are the highest scoring entrants in each state.  To be considered a finalist for the Merit® Scholarship award, semifinalists must compete with over 8,200 Merit® Scholarship awards, worth more than $35 million, and advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements.  Finalists are chosen based on academic records, two sets of test scores, school official’s written recommendation, student’s activities and leadership, and the finalist’s own essay.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955.  More than 1.5 million juniors in over 21,000 high schools entered the 2009 National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring of 2009.   

For more information on the program, please visit the National Merit ® Scholarship Program website at http://www.nationalmerit.org.