The principal, Mr. Timothy Rankin, of McDowell High School, announced today that Sophia Xu is a semifinalist in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. This academically talented high school senior has an opportunity along with approximately 16,000 other semifinalists to continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $35 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.

The National Merit Scholarship Program organization has the goal of “honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.”

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2009 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.

School Board/Study Session meetings are held at the Millcreek Education Center, 3740 West 26th Street, Erie, Pa.  The meetings begin at 7 p.m.