Every year, 16,000 high school seniors across America are entered into the National Merit Scholarship Program based on their PSAT testing scores, competing for the title of “finalist” and the high prize scholarship accompanying the title. According to Sarah McCarthy, senior and semi-finalist, the purpose of the National Merit Award is to “encourage young people to strive for academic excellence and to garner support for education.”

Ever since his freshman year, Andrey Rainchik, senior and semi-finalist, has wanted to enter the competition. He knew ahead of time, however, that it was going to require preparation and dedication to accomplish his goal. “Becoming a National Merit Semi-Finalist was a lot of hard work,” Rainchik explained.

The first step for students entering the competition involves buying study books to assist them with practice problems. In Rainchik’s case, those books helped him prepare for the PSAT and later on for the SAT.

On Friday, Sept. 12, all the hard work paid off as Rainchik, McCarthy, Margaux Wilson and Rick Kubly, seniors, received word that they had become semi-finalists in the competition. All the finalists met with their counselors and were given informational packets including application forms and information regarding the essays they needed to write in order to become a finalist. “Hopefully, that’s the next step for me,” Rainchik added.

The recognition even as a semi-finalist gives the winners an opportunity to win one of the scholarships, one having a value of $2,500. “[Winning would] validate all my years of hard work leading up to it,” Wilson said. “Working towards the goal of winning this award will be an opportunity for growth and an [invaluable] experience.”