District News

Mason named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist

 

Sept. 19, 2011

 

Katie Mason, a senior at Canajoharie High School, has been named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship (NMSC) competition.

She is one of 16,000 finalists from around the country. From that group, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation chooses about 8,300 winners.

Finalists compete for one of three scholarships based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

“Katie is a great all around student and we’re pleased by her performance,” said Principal David Barnes.

About 1.5 million juniors in close to 22,000 high schools entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2010 Preliminary sat/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of semifinalists - which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors - includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Katie plans to attend college next fall and is in the process of applying.

“This scholarship is important because now the colleges will know my name,” she said. I’m applying to Harvard and Dartmouth and this is something I know that will be helpful.”

Notable National Merit Scholars include Bill Gates and M. Night Shyamalan.