The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced today that seven Duval County Public Schools’ (DCPS) students were among more than 1,600 Black American seniors selected as National Achievement Scholarship semifinalists.
The National Achievement Scholarship Program was established in 1964 and operates without government assistance. It has awarded more than $98 million in scholarships to over 31,000 young black men and women throughout its 47 year history. The scholarship program was initiated to recognize academically promising black students throughout the nation.
Semifinalists are now eligible to advance to the finalist competition to vie for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship® awards worth more than $2.4 million. About 80 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will receive an Achievement Scholarship award.
DCPS’ Semifinalists:
Paxon School for Advanced Studies
Everett N. Malone
Jacquline M. Rucker
Stanton College Preparatory School
Malcolm B. Chapman
Tatum L. Jordan-Madden
Emily N. McNeill
Kabriel A. Moorehead
Simon L. Woodfork
About the Competition
More than 160,000 high school juniors from all parts of the United States requested
consideration in the 2011 National Achievement Scholarship Program when they took the 2009
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Semifinalists are
designated within geographic regions and are the highest-scoring program entrants in the states
that make up each region.
To advance to the Finalist level in the competition, Semifinalists must present a record of
high academic performance throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high
school principal, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the PSAT/NMSQT performance.
Also, the Semifinalist and a high school official must complete a detailed scholarship application
in which they provide information about the student’s participation in school and community
activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and educational goals.
Approximately 1,600 Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level in the
2012 program. 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.
National Achievement Scholarships
National Achievement Scholarships provided in 2012 will be supported by corporations,
professional organizations, foundations, and by NMSC’s own funds. Two types of scholarships
will be offered. Every Finalist will compete for one of the 700 one-time National Achievement
$2500 Scholarships, which will be awarded on a regional representation basis. In addition,
corporate and business sponsors will underwrite about 100 Achievement Scholarship awards for
Finalists who meet criteria set by the grantor. Although some corporate-sponsored awards provide
a single payment, most are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study. NMSC will
release the names of scholarship winners to news media in early April.
Duval County Public Schools operates 177 schools and serves approximately 123,000 students. The school district is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities that will inspire all students to acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a global economy, and culturally diverse world.
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