Three North Shore Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship® Program

Principal, Albert Cousins along with new Director of Counseling of North Shore High School proudly announced that Dylan Hoell, Kyra McCreery, and Molly McPartlin were named Semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit National Merit® Scholarship Program. Approximately, 16,000 Semifinalists throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. These talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 7,500 National Merit® Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. In February 2020, Semifinalists will be notified if they advance to the Finalist level.

All Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Exam which served as the initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. 

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. It was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit® Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 440 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Photo Caption: Article and photos by Shelly Newman. Information provided by the National Merit National Merit® Scholarship Program.