Five of them are from Lakeview Academy: Kristin Corbett, Sibylle Freiermuth, Nick Johnson, Jennifer Whitehead, and Kelsey Zottnick.
Rounding out the list from Hall County are: Caleb White, Heritage Academy, and Lauren Kiel, Chestatee High School.
The 16,000 high school seniors named Wednesday have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth $33 million, that will be offered next spring.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must advance to the finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several requirements. About 90 percent of the them are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will be selected as Merit Scholarship winners, earning the Merit Scholar title.
Established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Program, NMSC is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by NMSC's own funds and approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC's goals of honoring the nation's scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/9/104243