Three Sparta Students Move Forward in National Merit Scholarship Contest

Three Sparta students are among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists of the 2012-13 National Merit Scholarship Program. 

The local honorees are Ian M. Garrison, who is home-schooled; Pope John XXIII Regional High School student Ryan D. Fieldhouse; and Peter H. Jin, who attends Sparta High School.

Garrison, Fieldhouse and Jin have an opportunity to continue in the competition to receive part of about $35 million in National Merit Scholarships that will be offered next spring. About 8,000 students will receive a scholarship.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finals, and about 90 percent of them will succeed. About half of the semifinalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, giving them the title of Merit Scholar.

The nonprofit NMSC was established in 1955 for the purpose of honoring young American scholars. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 440 business organizations and higher education institutions

National Merit Scholarship winners will between April and July of 2014.