Three Mansfield ISD students are among the 16,000 students nationally to earn the distinction of being called 2010 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

Semifinalists: 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program

Daniel Goodwin – Mansfield Legacy High School
Kyle Jurik – Mansfield High School
Kara Mangum – Mansfield Summit High School

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit® Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. The Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self-descriptive essay and information about the Semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.