Five Ocala high school seniors have been selected as semifinalists for a National Merit Scholarship.
According to a Marion County Public Schools press release, over 1.5 million students are eligible for the scholarship nationwide, and only around 16,000 students are selected as semifinalists.
The scholarship program is in its 66th year is providing college scholarships to high school seniors through a competitive testing and scoring process.
This year’s semifinalists are from three different Ocala-area high schools.
Sarah McGinley of Forest High School plans to study chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Diego Carrascosa of Vanguard High School plans to study physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Rushi Patel of Vanguard High School plans to pursue medicine and become a doctor.
Colin McLaughlin of Vanguard High School plans to become a high school history teacher in Marion County.
Casiel Smith of West Port High School plans to earn a degree in psychology.
All five students will learn if they advance to the next round as finalists in February.
For more information, visit the National Merit Scholarship website.