El Cerrito High Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist

Announcement submitted by West Contra Costa Unified School District:

An El Cerrito High School senior has been named a semifinalist in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, officials from the prestigious competition announced this week.

Gwendolyn Gilbert-Snyder is one of approximately 16,000 semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors. She now has an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

Finalists will be announced in February.

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