Johnston National Merit Finalists Honored

While it's not a surprise that Johnston High School is home to bright students, the school now proudly boasts six National Merit Scholarship finalists.

Josh Boeschen, Austin Busch, Jeff Carley, Mark Gee, Katherine Giles, and Vivian Wu were honored by the Johnston Board of Education on Monday evening.

The students received a plaque and posed with board members.

Josh Boeschen said he plans to major actuarial science probably at Drake University.

Austin Busch said he plans to study computer science and music.

Vivian Wu plans to study business administration.

Kathrine Giles said she plans to study bio-medical engineering at the University of Iowa.

Jeff Carley said he plans to study biochemistry.

Mark Gee was unable to attend the meeting, as he was visiting a perspective college.

The students now have the opportunity to compete for about 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million, to be offered this spring.

In October, the six students were named as National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists.

In order to be considered the students had to meet several requirements to move to the finalist level of the competition. About 15,000 semifinalists were expected to attain finalist standing in February 2013, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

The teens qualified to be National Merit Scholarship semifinalists by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT (PSAT).

From April to July 2013, the National Merit Scholarship winners of 2013 will be announced. The scholars will join more than 291,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.