(The following press release was issued by the Wentzville School District.)

The Wentzville School District is proud to announce that Michael Brawner from Holt High School and Clarissa Mate from Timberland High School have been selected as semifinalists in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

These talented students represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Michael Brawner is a four-year member of the Holt High School marching band and a four-year football athlete. He earned an ACT composite score of 34, and achieved a “5” rating on his AP Chemistry and AP Biology exams in May 2012. He is currently enrolled in a rigorous course schedule that includes four Advanced Placement classes. Brawner plans on attending the University of Missouri and studying veterinary medicine.

Clarissa Mate is a senior class officer at Timberland High School, Co-President of the French Club, and a member of the National Honor Society and the Math Club. She is active in speech and drama and also volunteers at Therapeutic Horsemanship. Mate has scored a 34 on the ACT test and is currently taking five Advanced Placement courses. She plans on studying chemistry, and would like to be a medical examiner or pathologist.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and honors and awards received.

A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT/ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 440 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.