The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for both recognition and scholarships administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Each year, NMSC conducts two competitions; the National Merit Scholarship Program, which is open to all students who meet entry requirements, and the National Achievement Scholarship Program (est. 1964) in which only African-American students can participate.

Roughly 1.5 million students participate in the National Merit Program every year. Of these students, around 15,000 qualify for both recognition and scholarships. Also, roughly 160,000 students participate in the National Achievement Program. Of these students, around 800 qualify for both recognition and scholarships.

This year, four seniors from Stillwater Area High School were chosen for the National Merit Program: Alex Eitzman, Andrea Rustad, Noah Ruh and Ryan Martin; and one student was chosen for the National Achievement program: Monica Anufuro.

High school students enter the programs by taking the Preliminary SAT. This serves as an initial screen of program entrants, and measures reading ability, writing ability, and mathematics.

“Every junior who takes the PSAT is entered for National Merit. The top one percent of scorers in each state become semifinalists. After that, you have to get a comparable score on the SAT and have decent grades,” explained Eitzman.

Anufuro’s case was slightly different. “You had to be African/Black American and you had to take the PSAT test and perform well on it,” she explained.

The Selection Index qualifying scores vary from year to year and state to state. Students with the highest scores (roughly the top 3 percent of 11th grade testers) qualify.

“I already knew based off my PSAT score that I would get it since my brother already went through the process. I was happy that I was able to become a National Merit Scholar as well,” said Eitzman.

After taking the PSAT, students with the highest scores are chosen to take the SAT, write an essay and send in an application.

Rustad explained, “First they choose people with a certain score on the PSAT. Then, if you are selected, you have to take the SAT, write an essay and send in grades and information about yourself-pretty much like any scholarship.”

Based off of this, semifinalists are selected. They continue their journey.

To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists have to fulfill requirements to advance to finalist standing. This includes sending in a detailed application including grades and extracurricular activities. Based off of this information, finalists are selected.

“I was very pleased to have received finalist status both because it was very helpful in college applications and because it can help pay some tuition costs,” said Ruh.

Students have received immense support.

“My family and friends were very proud of me and they were just as excited as I was,” said Rustad.

The recognition has been wonderful.

“My parents were just as excited about the actual scholarship as they were about my little feature on the Stillwater Public School Facebook page,” said Anufuro.

Eitzman plans on majoring in Computer Engineering and is still deciding between several schools.

Rustad said, “I am still trying to decide what I would like to do in the future, in terms of a profession, but I’m considering going into medicine. I am interested in science and I also like helping others, and I think this would be a good way to combine this.”

Ruh plans on going to the University of Michigan Ann Arbor to major in Mechanical Engineering.

“I’m not sure which college yet, but I am interested in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. I’m thinking about developing some product that makes knowledge of science and math more appealing and accessible to a wider range of people. That’s just an idea though,” said Anufuro.

In case you are interested in this scholarship, some advice from the scholars includes the following.

Eitzman recommends studying for the PSAT and taking it your sophomore year for practice.

“Be as prepared as you can and show your strengths in the application,” said Rustad.

Ruh recommends maintaining good grades.

“Should you advance to semifinalist status, don’t be deathly afraid of the SAT like I was. Stress and standardized testing often go hand-in-hand, but it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Anufuro.

SAHS wishes its National Scholars the best of luck as they advance into the future.