Pottstown Native Named National Merit Scholar

POTTSTOWN, PA — Great news for the local community: one student has been named a National Merit Scholar winner, one of the most prestigious honors afforded to high school seniors in the nation every year.

Pottstown resident and Pottsgrove High School senior Nathan A. Smith, who has career plans in academics, will receive a $2,500 scholarship as part of the honor.

Only 2,500 students from around the nation are distinguished as National Merit Scholars after they are chosen from a pool of 15,000 semifinalists.

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, according to a prepared statement.

More than 1.6 million students were considered for the contest when they took the PSATs in October 2015 as juniors.

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Winners are selected purely on merit, without consideration of their family financial circumstances, college choice, major, or career plans.

Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 420 business organizations and higher education institutions, according to the news release.

Image via National Merit Scholars Program