MCS boasts most National Merit Semifinalists in Alabama districts
National Merit Semifinalists at Bob Jones High are (alphabetical order) Keona Banks, Alan Grissom, Warren He, Colby Huskey, Ahmad Imam, Shantanu Kadam, Claire Magnuson ,Dylan Meyer, Michaela Philip and Heesun Yoon. CONTRIBUTED
National Merit Semifinalists at James Clemens High School are (alphabetical order) Grace Billman, Christian Burks, Gautham Gorti, James Marden, Sharath Narayan, Kyle Perkinson, Madison Scott, Chad Sykes, Alex Walbom and Abby Woods. CONTRIBUTED
James Clemens High School and Bob Jones High School each had 10 semifinalists. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state on 2016 PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) that they completed as juniors.
In having 10 each, James Clemens and Bob Jones tied for second among Alabama high schools. “Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills high schools were tied for first at 12 each,” MCS Public Relations Manager John S. Peck said. “As a school district, however, Madison City produced more national merit semifinalists (20) this year than any other school system in Alabama, regardless of size.”
Dr. Heather Donaldson, MCS Chief Academic Officer, said, “We are very proud of these students. It reflects not only their dedication and hard work but of the quality of teachers and programs from all sectors of Madison City Schools — pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.”
These academically talented students now will move into the competition for 7,500 National Merit scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be available in spring 2018. Approximately 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT tests last school year.
Mike Potter, who co-chairs Madison Schools Growth Impact Committee, said the value of quality schools as exemplified by MCS is one of the points that the committee keeps rediscovering.
“Our schools are good across the board — doesn’t matter where you attend school in Madison,” Potter said. “MCS is a huge factor in selling North Alabama in BRAC efforts. It is both a cause of our growth and a reason our home values stay high.”
“Once again, MCS hit a grand slam — 10 semifinalists from each high school,” Potter said.
