Seniors place in National Merit semifinals

unspecified-7 — The Mira Costa National Merit Scholar finalists from last year simulate a PSAT for preparation. The students this year will likely do the same.

By Kayla Samimi

Executive News Editor

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation awarded seven Mira Costa seniors on Sept. 14 as 2016 semifinalists for high ranking preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship qualifying test scores.

Link: Read about the PSAT test components and purpose

The Costa semifinalists are Melia Chittenden, Darby Dayton, Elisse Friedman, Barbara Garrison, Kylie Hefner, Matthew Kennedy and Emma Parsons.

“I was proud of everyone who received the semifinalist standing,” Friedman said. “I know it strengthens my college applications.”

Link: Read about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Of the one and a half million high school seniors in the United States who took the PSAT/NMSQT in October of 2015, 16,000 became semifinalists.

All semifinalists will receive scholarships from businesses and organizations that sponsor NMSC.

“Less than one percent of seniors reach the semifinalist level, so that’s pretty cool,” Dayton said. “I feel relieved because I might be able to afford to go to USC now.”

NMSC will notify the semifinalists in February via letter that they are 2016 finalists. If any Costa student becomes a finalist, he or she will receive a portion of Natonal Merit scholarships totaling $33 million.

“This is for students who have demonstrated their excellence on [the test],” Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale said. “They should be rewarded for their performance.”