More than 1,600 Black American high school seniors have been designated by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) officials as Semifinalists in the 51st annual National Achievement Scholarship Program. Included on the list are Kara E. Johnson, a student at Westerville Central High School; and Olamide Bola, a pupil at Westerville North.
These scholastically talented young men and women now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship awards worth about $2.5 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a National Achievement Scholarship, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist standing. More than half of the Finalists will win an Achievement Scholarship award.
The National Achievement Scholarship Program, conducted by NMSC, is a privately financed academic competition that operates without government assistance. It was initiated in 1964 to recognize academically promising black students throughout the nation and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding program participants. To date, approximately 33,500 young men and women have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth about $105 million.