Oxford High School Seniors Named as Semifinalists in 2015 National Merit Competition
Four Oxford High School students — William Anderson, David Dennis, Joonhee Jo and William Tollison — are among high school seniors nationwide to be named Semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 60th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Oxford High School Principal Mike Martin credits the entire public school system in Oxford for the recent academic recognition these students received.
“This is not just an Oxford High School recognition award; the entire Oxford School District has had a hand in these students’ success — each teacher, administrator, bus driver, custodian, faculty member,” said Martin. “From pre-K to Oxford High School, our public school system and our community have had a direct impact on each student.”
Semifinalists are selected based on their scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in their junior year. Semifinalist status is awarded to the students from each state who scored the highest on the exam and is proportional to the state’s total percentage of graduating seniors.
School district officials say each student in the school district is challenged to do their best by parents and teachers.
“Our school district’s vision is ‘First in Class - The Oxford Way,’” said Brian Harvey, superintendent for the Oxford School District. “ I truly believe through everything they do, our students are challenged to excel, whether it’s in the arts, athletics or academics. We are very proud of this year’s selection of National Merit Semifinalists.”
The high school seniors named will continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million that will be offered next spring. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to reach Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.