Spotlight on Education: Manatee Senior Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

BRADENTON – Brianna DeWitty of Manatee High School has been named a semifinalist in the 50th Annual National Achievement Scholarship Program, according to a release from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Brianna now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship awards, worth some $2.5 million to be offered next spring.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program, conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, 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.

More than 160,000 high school juniors across the country requested consideration in the 2014 National Achievement Scholarship Program when they took the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Approximately 1,300 Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level and in January they will be notified of this designation. All Achievement Scholar awardees will be selected from the Finalist group on the basis of their abilities, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.