Bellefontaine High School seniors Oliver Moreland and Cati Snyder have been recognized for their academic excellence in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Oliver is one of 16,000 performers designated as a Semifinalist, now moving onto the final stage to earn the title of Merit Scholar.
The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. These academically talented students will have an opportunity to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million that will be offered in the coming months.
During this next stage of the competition, Oliver must meet several requirements to attain finalist standing. These include a detailed scholarship application that showcases his academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
“Bellefontaine High School has been the home to 42 National Merit Scholars, dating back to our first Scholar in 1957,” Bellefontaine City Schools Gifted Coordinator Angie Horvath said.
“We’re looking forward to adding Ollie to this prestigious list of names. I’m thankful for this program that showcases and rewards a well-deserving student like Ollie. We’re all cheering him on as he moves through the next level.”
Fellow BHS senior Cati qualified as a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.
A Letter of Commendation was presented to her from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program.
Cati was one of approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation to be recognized for their exceptional academic promise.
Although Cati will not continue in the 2024 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students place among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2024 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
“Cati has demonstrated outstanding academic performance. She is a shining example of the educational excellence in our nation and here at BCS. I’m very proud of Cati’s development and dedication to her studies,” Horvath said.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with their own funds and approximately 400 businesses and higher education institutions that share the goal of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
Over 1.5 million students across 21,000 high schools entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2024 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.