SIX AREA STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST STATUS

Students attending three area high schools were among the nearly 15,500 semifinalists in the 44th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Six seniors from Cape Girardeau Central, Notre Dame and Jackson high schools were selected for the academic honor, which is given based on scores from the 1997 preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The semifinalists represent fewer than 1 percent of the state's high-school graduating class.

Jonathan Anderson, Leah Hill, Susan Tansil and Dongyang Zhang, all seniors at Central High School, were selected as semifinalists.

Anderson is the son of David and Jan Anderson of Cape Girardeau. He is a member of the Central cross-country team, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Beta Club and the leader of the Student Prayer Group. He is also involved in the Cape Bible Chapel youth group.

Hill is the daughter of Joyce Hill of Cape Girardeau. She is active in Spanish Club, NHS and scholar bowl. She has been recognized as junior English student of the month.

Tansil is the daughter of Dr. Tom and Linda Tansil of Cape Girardeau. She is a member of the Central swim team, Red Dagger, NHS and Beta Club and has been honored as the language arts student of the year.

Zhang is the son of Xuesong and Ying Yu Zhang of Cape Girardeau. He is a member of NHS, Beta Club, marching band and jazz band. He has attended the Missouri Scholars Academy and was a member of the all-district band.

Semifinalist Vincent Horrell, son of Aaron and Paula Horrel of Chaffee, attends Notre Dame High School. Horrel has received numerous academic honors, including a second-place finish in the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics' algebra II contest and third place in the geometry contest. He has attended various camps and educational programs, such as the Summerscape program at Drury College, 4-H State Congress in Columbia, and the Duke University TIP program in England.

Semifinalist Andrew Luehrs attends Jackson High School and is the son of Edgar and Peggy Luehrs of Jackson. He has been featured in several school plays and is a member of the school marching band and speech team. He has attended the Missouri Scholars Academy and Boys State.

The students will now submit academic records, SAT scores, endorsements from their principals, and a detailed scholarship application for consideration for finalist standing. Approximately 90 percent, or 14,000 students, are expected to reach finalist standing and be considered for some 7,600 scholarship awards that will be offered next spring.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a privately financed, not-for-profit corporation. Scholarships awarded through the Merit Program are supported by about 600 independent sponsor organizations and institutions.