FBCA Senior Named as a Semifinalist in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program

NMSC officials, on Wednesday, announced the over 16,000 semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. All semifinalists will now have the opportunity to compete for some 7,140 scholarships worth almost $28 million next spring.

Graham Traylor, FBCA Director of College Counseling, is very proud of Joana and her excellent accomplishment. 

"Congratulations to Joana on such an incredible accomplishment. I am excited to support her as she goes through this prestigious, but intensive, process. This honor is affirmation of the intellectual ability we see in her every day on our campus, and she has a chance at exceptional opportunities for their time after FBCA through this program," Traylor said.

All semifinalists, now seniors, entered the program as juniors in high school by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Nationwide, they represent less than 1% of high school seniors and include the highest-scoring entrants from each state.

"I didn't expect it, so I'm very excited to become a National Merit Semifinalist! I'll continue to work hard so I can improve even more in the future!," Joana Liu, FBCA Senior and National Merit Semifinalist said.  

According to the NMSC release, "To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist's academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received."

"A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test," the release states.

More than 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to finalists, who will be notified in February. Scholarship winners will be selected from the group of finalists based on their skill level, accomplishments, and potential for success in college. Winners will be announced in four nationwide news releases from April to July 2024.

Congratulations Joana!