5 Lakeview Academy students make history

GAINESVILLE - It's a first for Gainesville and Hall County: five National Merit Scholarship finalists from one school, public or private.

The five attend Lakeview Academy.

They are Kristin Corbett, daughter of Kim and William Corbett; Sibylle Freiermuth, daughter of Helen and Bernhard Freiermuth; Nick Johnson, son of Christine and David Johnson; Jennifer Whitehead, daughter of Janice and Harry Whitehead; and Kelsey Zottnick, daughter of Lynn and Kerry Zottnick.

The National Merit Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Of the 1.4 million entrants to the program, eventually 15,000 students are given National Merit distinction nationally. They are the highest scoring entrants in the country and advance to the Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards.