Mansfield ISD Magazine Fall 2016 | Page 10

Four MISD Students Named as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists (L-R) Daniel Erickson, Eric Li, Mark Sterling and Austin Whitt said it was an honor to be one of the top scorers in the nation. F our Mansfield ISD students have been chosen out of 1.5 million total entrants to be semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. others. This recognition by the NMSC can be life changing for students because universities will then offer national merit finalists full scholarships and more.” High school students are selected into the program based on their top scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference. Eric Li, Mark Sterling and Austin Whitt from Mansfield High School, along with Daniel Erickson from Summit High School are four of approximately 16,000 semifinalists. They now have the opportunity to continue in the competition to earn thousands of dollars in scholarships that will be offered in the spring. “These students have worked hard and have earned a place with the top 0.5 percent of scorers across the country,” said Marie Medina, program coordinator for advanced academics. “I am proud that highly trained teachers could make a difference for these young people and so many 8 Mansfield School & Family The National Merit Scholarship Program was founded in 1955 to identify and honor scholastically talented American youth and to encourage them to develop their abilities to the fullest.