Northfield Public Schools is pleased to announce that three Northfield High School seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists and seven have been named Commended students. Semifinalists are Audrey Kornkven, Clark Ohnesorge and Olivia Riggins. To earn this honor, these students scored in the top 3 percent of all students who took the preliminary SAT in the country last school year.

The students are among 16,000 nationwide chosen to compete for the reputable National Merit Scholarship. It is estimated that 90 percent of semifinalists will advance to the finalist level. Of those students, approximately half will be selected as Merit Scholarship recipients.

In order to advance to the next level, the students must receive an endorsement from Principal Joel Leer and complete a detailed application. The application process includes writing a descriptive essay and submitting a resume that outlines past and present involvement in leadership and community activities. Northfield Public Schools wishes the contestants the best of luck as they take the steps necessary to advance to the finalist level. Finalists will be notified in February 2016. National Merit Scholarship winners for 2016 will be announced in the spring.

The list of National Merit Commended Students for 2015-2016 includes Dmitri Beeby, Jasper Egge, Will Kruse, Sebastian Lawler, Hannah Lundstrom, Hannah Mahr and Ben Wang. These students represent the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 competition by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last fall.

This year’s National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Scholars will be recognized by the Northfield School Board at a reception prior to the November 23rd Board meeting. At that time, each student will also recogninze one school staff member who the student feels made a significant impact on their education.