Fifteen GSSM students among National Merit Semifinalists

The S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) leads Palmetto State high schools with the largest number of National Merit Semifinalists. Fifteen students from the class of 2010 recently were notified of their eligibility in the National Merit Semifinalists program. They are among 16,000 students across the United States now vying for 8,200 scholarships worth more than $36 million that will be offered next spring.

GSSM’s National Merit Semifinalists include Rowan Armstrong of North Charleston, Kayla Broeker of Orangeburg, Alexis Carr of Chester, Alice Chang of Summerville, China Cox of Mullins, Dominic Ranz Ebarle Errazo of Goose Creek, Millie Griffin of Florence, Ramiz Hamid of Saint Helena, Emily Harruff of Columbia, Andy Jenkins of Abbeville, Somin (Susie) Lee of Greenville, James F. McManus Jr. of Lexington, Peter Rassolov of Columbia, Alice Sudlow of Florence and Seok-Hyun Sung of Columbia.
“I’m really proud each one of these 15 students, not just for their outstanding results with National Merit Scholarships, but for all that they do,“ said Murray Brockman, GSSM president. “They are truly exceptional in every way and all the credit goes to them and to their families as they bring honor to themselves, our school and our state.“

One-hundred and forty-six S.C. public high school and homeschool students were announced as semifinalists. 

About 90 percent of the total 16,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level, and approximately half of those will eventually earn a scholarship, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the program’s non-profit sponsor.

More than 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2010 National Merit Program by taking the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screening.

The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. To advance to the finalist stage, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

A detailed scholarship application including an essay and information about the student’s participation and leadership in school and community activities also is required. Merit Scholars will be selected from the finalist pool on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Scholarship awards will be announced in beginning April 2010 and concluding in July.