About 34,000 nationwide are

recognized for their academic excellence as commended students. Although

they will not continue in the 2004 competition for Merit Scholarship awards,

commended students placed among the top five percent of all test-takers

of the PSAT.

Semi-finalists will have the

opportunity to compete for National Merit scholarships. These students

represent less than one percent of high school seniors, and are comprised

of the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semi-finalists

in a state is proportional to the state's percentage of the national total

of graduating seniors.

To become a finalist, semi-finalists

must have a record of high academic performance, be endorsed and recommended

qualifying test performance, and must complete a detailed scholarship

application, including a self-descriptive essay.

Finalists will be announced

in the spring. The National Merit Scholarship Program was instituted in

1955 to honor scholastically able young men and women, broaden their educational

opportunities, and encourage academic excellence at all levels.