Goshen High School senior Julia Allgeyer has earned national recognition for high academic achievement.
Allgeyer has been been named a National Merit Semifinalist. The National Merit Scholarship program gives academically talented high school seniors an opportunity to compete for national scholarships. This year the 16,000 semifinalists are competing for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships together worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.
“From athletics, music, science, dual credit courses and service, Julia has involved herself in every aspect of our school and excelled," said Goshen Goshen High School High School Principal Stephanie Walker. "We wish her well on her journey as she progresses through the application process to hopefully be named a National Merit Finalist.”
GHS guidance counselor Kelly Royal said, “We are so proud of Julia. She is an amazing student who fully embodies our vision of a Goshen High School graduate. Julia has plans to attend college after high school and study marine science. It’s been such a pleasure to work with her during her four years at Goshen High School.”
Students enter the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test or PSAT/NMSQT test their junior year of high school. The nationwide pool of semifinalists includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
Once the semi finalists are announced, students can then apply to become a finalist by filling out a detailed application, writing an essay, providing their high school transcripts, showing participation in school and community activities, demonstrating leadership abilities, showing employment and listing any award or honors they’ve received. Semifinalists must also be recommended by their high school principal and show they plan to enroll in college the following fall.
From the over 16,000 semifinalists, more than 95% are expected to become finalists and about half of those will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title, according to the release.
National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced starting in April. Scholarship recipients will join the nearly 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.