Four among scholarship semifinalists

Rose, King Ibikunle and Woodham in contention for Achievement Scholarships

October 01, 2007

Four local students are among 1,600 black high school seniors who have been designated semifinalists in the 44th annual Achievement Scholarship competition, according to a National Achievement Scholarship Program press release.

Maura C. Rose, a senior at Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Md.; Mikhael R. King, a senior at Jefferson High School in Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.; and Sijibomi Ibikunle and Trenton A. Woodham, both seniors at Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy, are local finalists, according to the release.

The semifinalists have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 800 scholarships worth more than $2.5 million to be awarded next spring, according to the release.

About 1,300 semifinalists are expected to fulfill additional requirements and advance to the finalist level in the 2008 program. All National Achievement Scholars will be selected from the finalist group on the basis of abilities and accomplishments, according to the release.

More than 140,000 high school juniors from throughout the United States requested consideration in the 2008 National Achievement Program when they took the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, according to the release.

Every finalist will be considered for one of 700 National Achievement $2,500 scholarships that will be awarded on a regional representation basis. In addition, about 100 corporate-sponsored Achievement Scholarship awards will be financed by corporations, foundations and professional organizations for finalists who meet criteria set by the grantor, according to the release.

The National Achievement Program, conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., is a privately financed academic competition that operates without government assistance. It was initiated in 1964 to recognize promising black students throughout the nation. To date, more than 27,800 young men and women have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $88 million, according to the release.

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