UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A West Clermont High School senior has been named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, placing him among the highest-scoring PSAT/NMSQT test-takers in Ohio, the West Clermont Local School District said in a Facebook post.
David Porter earned the distinction after his Selection Index score on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test ranked among the top scorers in the state, according to the district. Semifinalists are drawn from more than 1.3 million students nationwide who take the test each year, with roughly 16,000 advancing — under 1% of entrants — according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the nonprofit that administers the program. Semifinalist spots are allocated to each state based on that state’s share of the nation’s graduating seniors.
To move from semifinalist to finalist standing, Porter must complete an application confirming his academic record, secure an endorsement from West Clermont and submit a corroborating SAT score, per National Merit Scholarship Corporation requirements. About 15,000 of the roughly 16,000 semifinalists nationally go on to earn finalist status each year, and roughly half of finalists ultimately receive a scholarship award, according to the corporation.
“This prestigious recognition is a testament to David’s academic excellence, hard work, and dedication,” the district said in its post announcing the honor. “We are incredibly proud to have him representing West Clermont on the national stage.”
West Clermont High School, on Bach Buxton Road in Union Township, opened in 2017 through the merger of Amelia and Glen Este high schools and is the only high school in the West Clermont Local School District, which serves Union Township, Batavia and surrounding communities.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the West Clermont Local School District.