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September 13th, 2006
BRADENTON - Eight seniors in Manatee County's public high schools - including six from Southeast High - have been named semifinalists in the academically prestigious 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program. In addition to the eight public school students, three seniors at Saint Stephen's Episcopal School in Bradenton were also named National Merit semifinalists.
The 2007 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists from Manatee County are:
Lakewood Ranch High: Brian M. Frey and Benjamin M. Kriegel
Southeast High: Alison I. Bilderback, Adeline R. Dozois, Shana B. Fraser, Jessica J. Stubenberg, Daryl J. Wing and Mark K. Zeller
St. Stephen's Episcopal School: Kelly M. Connolly, Daniella Corcuera and Patrick J. Hillstrom
The six semifinalists who attend Southeast are all enrolled in the school's International Baccalaureate program. Last year, Southeast's IB program produced three National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.
Students qualify for the National Merit Scholar distinction by taking the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) during their junior year of high school. During the 2005-2006 school year, more than 1.4 million high school students across the country took the PSAT, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Approximately 16,000 students achieved semifinalist status this year based on their performance on the PSAT. Using a variety of factors including overall performance in high school, leadership qualities, a principal's recommendation and a descriptive essay, a group of approximately 15,000 finalists will be selected. Those finalists will have the chance to compete for $33 million in Merit Scholarship Awards to be announced next spring.
Brenda O'Connor, an Assistant Principal and the IB Coordinator at Southeast summed up the entire school district's feelings when she said, “We're delighted for these students who have worked so hard; they deserve this recognition.”