District 5: 11 Students Named Semifinalists for National Merit Scholarship

Eleven students from Lexington-Richland School District Five have been named semifinalists in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. The designation means that these academically talented seniors from Chapin, Dutch Fork and Irmo high schools now have a chance to continue in the competition for the 8,000 National Merit Scholarships being offered next spring.

Semifinalists from District Five include: William C. Haycox, (Chapin High); Sarah M. Jackson (Chapin High), Patrick A. O’Leary (Chapin High), Jacob R. Baltzegar (Dutch Fork High), Glenn R. Bertram (Dutch Fork High), Olivia M. Blair (Dutch Fork High), Seth D. Grosse (Dutch Fork High), Daniel A. Ott (Dutch Fork High), Tulsi Patel (Dutch Fork High), Caleb M. Thomas (Dutch Fork High), and Rachel A. Catalano (Irmo High).

Chapin High School Principal Dr. Akil Ross said, “I am very proud of the achievement of our National Merit Semifinalists.  Their accomplishment is the result of hard work and a strong partnership between school and community.  Chapin High School seeks to maximize the potential of all students, and this great news is another example of our success.”

Dutch Fork Principal Dr. Gregory Owings said, “We are certainly proud of these seven Dutch Fork High students on being named National Merit Semifinalists. These talented students represent themselves and Dutch Fork at the highest levels, and we congratulate them on this prestigious designation.”

Irmo High Principal David Riegel said, “We would like to congratulate Rachel Catalano for being selected as a National Merit Semifinalist!  High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT, which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements. It’s an outstanding accomplishment to make it to the semifinals, and all of us here have lots of Irmo Pride for Rachel.”

The nationwide pool of semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Semifinalists must satisfy several requirements to advance to the finalist level of competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will be awarded a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.