Knox County Schools National Merit Scholars

Twenty-nine Knox County Schools highschool students have been selected as finalists for National Merit Scholarships for 2008.

The National Merit Scholarship Program began in 1955. It allows high school students to vie for academic recognition and undergraduate college scholarships. About 55,000 high school students nationwide compete each year for awards, including a minimum award of a college scholarship ranging from $2500 to full tuition. Approximately 8,200 finalists are annually awarded National Merit Scholarships.

"It is a very prestigious program," said Laurie Driver, guidance supervisor for Knox County Schools. "These students have worked hard throughout their academic careers. This is an honor they have earned, and I think they are in a position to be equally successful in their college careers. Their commitment, focus and subsequent success should serve as an example for all students to emulate."

According to Dr. Donna Wright, the school system's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, the 16 finalists at Farragut School is most at any high school in Tennessee.

National Merit Scholar competitors are screened based on their academic achievements, the results of their Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test , National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). Semifinalists are announced in the fall of a student's senior year, and winners are announced the following spring.

Students selected as National Merit Finalists are: