Seniors Alix Wicker and Monroe Wolf qualified as semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship. Only three other students from the Durham Public Schools system were chosen to be semifinalists, including two students from Jordan, and one from DSA.
   Becoming a semifinalist is based on a students junior year PSAT score. After meeting PSAT requirements and becoming a semifinalist, the student must write essays and send in their transcript to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to have a chance at being a finalist. In the end, about half of the finalists receive the scholarship either directly from the corporation, from a participating school, or from another corporation.  

    "I feel like all my hard work has payed off," Wolf said. Very few students ever become semifinalists. "I'm very honored and proud to be a semifinalist," Wicker said.
    Both Wolf and Wicker have applied to be finalists. "I'm feeling confident," Wicker said. "most semifinalists become finalists."
    Finalists and scholarship recipients will be announced later on in the year.

By Brad Hinkle