On Sept. 12 the National Merit Scholarship was


announced.
    This is a huge honor; there are only 16,000 semifinalists in the country. Senior Jacob Wilson is one of them.
    “This is the first semifinalist I have ever had and I have been here for 13 years,” Wilson’s counselor Joyce Barker said.
    The last semifinalist at FHN was Jonathan Kunkee in 2005.
    To receive this honor, students must have an outstanding academic record all throughout high school and be recommended by the school’s principal. They also must have high SAT scores.
   
    Wilson qualifies for all of this, seeing as he scored high on his PSAT and has around a 4.7 GPA.
    These semi-finalist students have the chance to advance to be a finalist; approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship earning the title “Merit Scholar.”
    “I am really excited about being a semifinalist,” Wilson said. “It could be really helpful in getting
into a college.”

    Three different types of the National Merit Scholarship awards will be offered in spring of 2009. Approximately 200 colleges and universities will be expected to give out Merit Scholarship awards for the finalists.
    “Jacob Wilson is a great kid and has come along way,” Barker said.