After taking the SAT and submitting teacher recommendations and other data, Roberts said those who make it to the finalist stage will know in January.

Bob Jones High School has 19 National Merit Semifinalists for 2011, the highest number in the school’s history.

Students must score in the 99 percentile on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Many colleges and universities will often award scholarships for tuition and books to those students, according to Bob Jones College and Career Advisor Sheila Roberts.

Once a student scores high enough to ascertain semifinalist status, that student then has to validate that PSAT score with a comparable Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score.

After taking the SAT and submitting teacher recommendations and other data, Roberts said those who make it to the finalist stage will know in January.

The PSAT is given to students during sophomore year as practice, but only when taken as a junior that they may qualify to participate in the competition.

This year’s National Merit Semifinalists with the middle and elementary school they attended if applicable.

Paul Barrett- Liberty Middle School, Madison Elementary School

Patrick Bradley-Liberty/Columbia Elementary School

Josh Clement-Liberty

Andrew Colsch-Liberty

Michael Cooper-Liberty/Heritage Elementary School, Columbia

Daniel Copeland-Discovery Middle School, Horizon Elementary School

Eric Dong-Liberty/Columbia, Heritage

Christopher Elegante-Discovery/Heritage, West Madison Elementary School, Rainbow Elementary

JJ Haight-Discovery/Rainbow

Eileen Lambert-Discovery/Horizon

Karen Li-Discovery/West Madison

Nathan McWhirter-Discovery

Nick Mecilkaski-Liberty/Columbia,Heritage

Briana Miller-Discovery/Rainbow

Bryce Miller-Liberty

Colton Plaza-Liberty/Heritage

Christopher Shriver-Discovery/Rainbow

Corinna Slater-Discovery/Madison

Swetha Surianarayanan-Moved to BJHS in the 10th grade from out of state.