Students from across greater Tarrant County have been named semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, which recognizes academically talented African American students.
The high school seniors are among 1,600 teen semifinalists announced Wednesday by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The students will go on to compete for about 800 scholarship awards worth more than $2.5 million in the spring, according to a news release.Among the 15 local students is Nicole Baker, 17, a senior at Covenant Christian Academy in Colleyville. Baker hasn't settled on a college yet, but plans to study pre-medicine and Spanish and wants to practice medicine in underdeveloped countries, the school said in a Wednesday news release.About 80 percent of semifinalists are expected to become finalists in the program and more than half of the finalists will likely win an award.Students entered the competition as high school juniors by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.The local students, listed by hometown and school, include:ArlingtonBowie High School: Raven A. HaynesMansfield Summit High School: Nicholas ToliverPantego Christian Academy, Morgan A. JacobJuan Seguin High School: Carra A. RentieColleyvilleColleyville Heritage High School: Alexandra JohnsonCovenant Christian Academy, Nicole M. BakerEulessTrinity High School: Nicholas A. FieldsFort WorthBoswell High School: Steven E. AugustNolan Catholic High School: Velani P. DibbaPaschal High School: Kendall SmithTimber Creek High School: Chandler K. Funderburg, Brandon N. MalloryTrimble Tech High: Keyona ShabazzGrapevineGrapevine High School: Ebonka O. AgbojeNorth Richland HillsBirdville High School: Andre D. ThomasWeatherfordVictory Baptist Academy: Angela J. AntoineJessamy Brown, 817-390-7326Twitter: @jessamybrownHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
