Student named semifinalist

One Green River student has been named among 16,000 semifinalists for the 2020 National Merit Scholarship program.

Green River High School senior, Will Allen, said he took the PSAT knowing it was a requirement for this particular scholarship. He knew this because his oldest sister was named a semifinalist a few years ago when she was a senior.

Allen said he was told only those who score in the top 10 percent on the PSAT in their state are made semifinalists.

"It just so happened that I was," Allen said.

Once named as a semifinalist, students must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalists standing, a press release from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation states. "Over 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the merit scholar title."

Allen said to become a finalist, he must do several things.

"I have to take the SAT and I have to fill out a bunch of forms that are very similar to a college application," Allen said.

He also must write an essay and obtain letters of recommendation in his behalf. The essay subject has already been picked out for students and Allen said it is name someone or something that influenced you and explain their significance.

Allen said he must also include a list of his volunteer work and what he's involved in at the high school.

Allen is a member of the GRHS Speech and Debate team, a band member and as he put it "he's dabbled" in theater as a percussionist for them.

For Allen, this opportunity not only means a chance at a nice collage scholarship, but the chance to one-up his sister. He said she didn't receive a scholarship, but he couldn't recall if she made it as a finalist or not.

"My whole life has been one big competition with my sister," Allen said.

All he's ever wanted to do is obtain an honor his sister didn't and when this came up, he saw his opportunity.

"I have a crack at doing that," he said.

All jokes and friendly, family competition aside, Allen understands what it means just to have his name on that semifinalist list.

"I get to put that on resumes," Allen said. "It does give me that advantage in life and that's cool."

According to the press release, the finalists will compete for one of three scholarships the program hands out: 2,500 will receive a national merit scholarship, 1,000 will obtain a corporate-sponsored merit scholarship and 4,100 will receive a college-sponsored merit scholarship. Each award has a little bit different criteria, which

Allen has already looked into.

For him, it doesn't matter which of the three scholarships he receives because he'd just like the honor of receiving one of them.

"You can only get one," he said.

Allen would like to obtain a bachelor's degree and master's degree in computer science.

"One of the reasons I'm going into that field is I know its quite the expanding market," Allen said.

 

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