FROM STAFF REPORTS

INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE – Five Indian Springs School seniors have been named semifinalists in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Will Davis, Kendall Owens, Spencer Robinson, Sarah Niles Simmons and Will Smith were selected based on their achievements on the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

The nationwide pool of about 16,000 semifinalists represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

These students have a chance to compete for about 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $31 million to be offered next spring.

About 90 percent of semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist round in February, and about half of finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the title of Merit Scholar, on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.