Nicholas Brorman, a senior at St. Joseph School, has been named a National Merit Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Finalists can receive scholarships of $2,500. Earning National Merit distinction is a rare and impressive honor. The last St. Joseph student to be so recognized was Will Steel in 2009.
Prospective college students who enter the National Merit Scholarship Program must begin by taking the Preliminary SAT/NMSQT in the Fall of their junior year in high school. More than four million students do so annually, but a relatively small number are selected as Merit Scholarship winners. To qualify as a semifinalist, entrants have to score within the top one percent of the nation's graduating seniors.Their scores are examined on a state-by-state basis, so students across the country have a fair chance at winning.
At the start of their senior year, students learn if they've qualified as semifinalists. If so, they apply for finalist status.That requires them to submit academic records, recommendations, and an essay. In March, the program awards about 7,500 finalists with National Merit Scholarships, corporate-sponsored scholarships or college-sponsored ones. An additional 1,200 students receive special scholarships from participating companies.
Nicholas is the son of Wade and Stacy Brorman, and he plans to attend the University of Central Arkansas in the Fall.