Paw Prints Online

      Of the 1.3 million entrants to the National Merit Scholarship Program, Brittany Wells is among the 8,000 finalists named National Merit Scholar. She is the first person from Lyon County High School to receive this distinguished honor.
     The National Merit Scholarship Program is a privately financed academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT- a test that serves as an initial screen of the more than one million entrants each year. Students can also enter the program by meeting published entry and participation requirements. To participate in the program a student must meet certain requirements. (http://www.nationalmerit.org/merit.htm)
     Some 50,000 people with the highest PSAT/NMSQ that qualified for the recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. In September the high scorers were notified through their schools that they qualified either as a Commended Student or a Semifinalist. The commended students were two thirds or 34,000 of the 50,000 students. They received recognition for their outstanding academic promise, but their competition for Merit Scholarship awards ends at Commended Student. The Semifinalists are one third, or 16,000, of the 50,000 high scorers. Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. NMSC will provide scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high school. The Semifinalist then advance in the competition to be considered for a Merit Scholarship award.
     The finalists who met all of the requirements were notified this month. The winners of Merit Scholarship award were chosen from the Finalist group. They were chosen based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments. In March, NMSC will notify approximately 8,000 Finalists that they have been selected to receive Merit Scholarship awards. There are three types of scholarship awards. One of the awards is a National Merit 2,500 Scholarship.          Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards are also given, along with College-sponsored Merit Scholarships. They are supported by 550 independent sponsors and by National Merit Scholarship Competition's own funds. Corporate and business sponsors also provide about 1,600 special scholarships each year. (http://nationalmerit.org/merit.htm)
     Brittany Wells is the daughter of Ronnie and Pearl Wells and is a senior
at Lyon County High School. She plans on attending Murray State University
in the fall and majoring in Music Education.
"It's really cool. Lots of people have come through Lyon County High
School and being the first National Merit Finalist is really an honor,"
says Wells of her accomplishment.