College Prep Students Honored by National Merit & College Board Organizations

College Prep students gather in the morning sun on campus to celebrate their honors by National Merit & College Boards

College Prep is pleased to announce that 46 members of the class of 2008 have been selected by the National Merit Scholarship Competition, 23 chosen as Semi-finalists and 23 as Commended students. Two other programs also recognized 5 seniors for their achievements, 3 by the National Achievement Scholarship Program and 2 by the National Hispanic Recognition Program. The students being honored by the National Merit and College Board organizations represent sixty-three percent of the College Prep class of 2008.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that was started in 1955 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. High-school juniors enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.3 million entrants each year, and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements. The National Merit Program is important to all juniors and seniors in high school. The program allows students to compete for scholarships and the chance to help finance their college careers.

As National Merit Semi-finalists, these exceptional students placed among the top 1% of California high-school students who took the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year. This award allows these students to continue in the competition for scholarships to be granted next spring.

National Merit Commended students are recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their finishing in the top 5% of all the students taking the exam, They will not, however, continue in the competition for scholarships.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students. Black students may participate in both the National Achievement Program and the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT. Students can qualify for recognition and be honored in both programs, but can only receive a monetary award from one program. Approximately 3,000 students are designated as Participants Referred to Colleges and 1,600 students are also the selected as Semi-finalists and can potentially advance to be Finalists in the National Achievement Program.

The National Hispanic Recognition Program was initiated in 1983 by the College Board recognizes academically outstanding Hispanic high-school students and shares information about these students with colleges and universities. Through this program students are recognized as Scholars or as Honorable Mentions by the organization.
 
Students from Alameda County
National Merit Semi-Finalists: James C., Tyler H., Emily J., Josh (Joshua) J., Hannah K., Kevin K., Jaewon L., Sophie (Sophia) L., Khy (Alexandra) M., Natalia M., Julia M., and Paul R.
National Merit Commended students: Evan B., Eli B., Case C., Elizabeth D., Samuel D., Vitaly D., Maya G., Gabrielle G., Abby H., Harvey J., Casey K., Anna O., Henry P., Benjamin S., Alexander S., Gabriel T., and David W.
National Achievement Program Semi-Finalists: TiaMoya F. and Natalie P.
National Achievement Program Participants Referred to Colleges: Mikaela K.
National Hispanic Recognition Program Honorable Mention: Alejandro P.

Students from Contra Costa County
National Merit Semi-Finalists: Amelia B., Kelsey C., Kirsten C., Leo (Leonardo) C., Charmaine H., Carolyn K., Nils M., Max (Maximilian) M., Evan M., Hannah S., and Kevin W.
National Merit Commended students: Shikhar D., Leanna F., Matthew G., Caroline G., and Daniel J.
National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar: Maximilian M.

Congratulations to all!