NICEVILLE, Fla. — Two students from Niceville High School are among Okaloosa County’s National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, earning recognition in one of the nation’s most competitive academic programs.
Lily Suttlemyre and William Cupp from Niceville High School join Jonathan Curtis and Tina Le from Choctawhatchee High School as the county’s semifinalists for the prestigious award.
“These students have demonstrated outstanding dedication and academic excellence,” said Marcus Chambers, Superintendent of Schools for the Okaloosa County School District.
“The process is rigorous, and those honored at any level for their academic excellence deserve it.”
The National Merit Scholarship Program honors students who achieve top scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) taken during their junior year. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of high school seniors across the United States.
To progress to the finalist stage and compete for one of 6,870 scholarships worth nearly $26 million, students must complete a thorough application process. They are required to maintain an excellent academic record, secure an endorsement from a school official, write an essay, and achieve SAT or ACT scores that confirm their PSAT performance.
