The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has begun announcements of Semifinalists in the 55th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue to compete for more than 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, that will be offered next spring. 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.

Three types of National Merit Scholarship awards will be offered in spring of 2010. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis.

About 1,000 corporate-based scholarships will be provided by approximately 270 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,700 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

Winners for 2010 will be announced between April and July of next year.

National Merit Semifinalists from Redmond include the following:

• From The Bear Creek School: Dillon T. Camp

• From The Overlake School: Claire E. Bazley, Serena X. Liu, Chelsea L. Thompson, Alexandra A. Weaver

• From Redmond High School: Rachel L. Ballantyne, Keiran R. Beaton, Briana Gahler, Kristina A. Hsu, Erika O. John, Sam G. Keller, Kristen Klimisch, Rebecca Y. Li, Devin E. McMahon, Stefan A. Mellem, Thomas C. Moore, Kathryn L. Norton, Kelly J. Ren

• From the Lakeside School: Rohan M. Paramesh