National Merit Scholarship semifinalists announced

Seventeen Medina County students have been named 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, putting them in elite academic company with roughly 7,500 nationwide peers. About 95 percent of semifinalists move on to become finalists before half are named winners of a National Merit Scholarship. The program is said to offer nearly $30 million each year in scholarship funds. High school seniors entered the 2022 competition last year as juniors through high achievement on their PSAT. The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring test-takers in each state. The number of semifinalists from each state is proportionate to its share of nationwide graduating seniors. According to organizers, finalists will be determined in February before National Merit Scholarships are awarded in four monthly announcements starting in April. The following Medina County high school seniors have qualified as semifinalists: Black River Local Schools Jacob Kodicovic Travis Owen Brunswick City Schools Morgan Beckler Caleb Blazek Lucas Shedlock Buckeye Local Schools Ian Mason Highland Local Schools Andrew Chand Emily Dunn Brian Marasco Jackson Shaw Drew Thomas Jason Yen Medina City Schools Alex Holthouse Olivia Rudd Brandon Timms Wadsworth City Schools Timothy Blair Sydney Goodson