All seven students from Broken Arrow High School previously identified as National Merit Semifinalists have advanced to National Finalist status in the 55th Annual National Merit Scholarship Competition.  They are Abby Bagby, Anna Bennett, Jill Graves, Chase Johnson, Vincent Landino, Paul Mills, and Kirby Smithe.

To become a National Merit Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an academic record of very high performance, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance (a score in the top two percent in the nation) on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test or PSAT taken as a high school junior.

In addition, the Semifinalist and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self-descriptive essay and information about the Semifinalist’s participation in leadership in school and community activities.

Approximately 15,000 Semifinalists advance to the Finalist level and it is from this group that all “National Merit Scholarship” winners will be chosen.  Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Every Finalist including the seven from BAHS will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2500 scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis. 

About 1,100 corporate-sponsored scholarships will be provided by some 300 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. 

In addition, approximately 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance over 4,500 college-sponsored National Merit awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

“These students’ teachers and administrators at Broken Arrow High School and throughout our entire Broken Arrow School District are extremely proud of this exceptional accomplishment for these students,” BAHS Principal Rob Armstrong said.  “All of these National Merit Finalists from our school are very deserving of this stellar academic achievement.”