Westminster Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

Rachel Berry and Valerie Winkler, seniors at Westminster Christian Academy, were recently honored as National Merit Semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Berry and Winkler are two of approximately 1.5 million high school juniors nationwide to enter the 2016 scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which serves as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Berry and Winkler are now eligible to advance in February to finalist standing in the competition. Students are evaluated based on their academic record, school curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, information about the student’s activities and leadership, and a written essay.

Meeting these high academic standards may also qualify Berry and Winkler for Merit Scholarship awards to be applied towards college.