Pictured (l-r): Principal Matt Keough, Lizzie Lucas, and President Brother Joseph Jozwiak.

Senior Elizabeth Lucas was named a semifinalist in the 65th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Lucas is among 16,000 students-a select group that represents less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide-who qualified for the scholarship program by scoring amongst the highest in their respective states on the preliminary Standardized Achievement Test (SAT).

Nearly 90 percent of the nation’s semifinalists are expected to be named finalists. They will then compete for one of the 7,500 National Merit Scholarships totaling more than $32 million. To become a finalist and be considered for the national scholarship, students must submit an application detailing their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The program’s finalists and Merit Scholars will be named in spring 2020.

Lucas is the daughter of the late Geoffrey and Deborah Lucas of Oneida.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC, with its own funds and by approximately 420 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions.