North and South AP students were honored at the board meeting on Oct. 26 for earning either a four or five on an AP exam along with two semifinalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Competition.

Juniors who excelled on the PSAT last year, received an application, which gave them the chance to become a National Merit Scholar. According to nationalmerit.org, 50,000 students are picked to receive the award. In early September, 16,000 were selected to become semifinalists. Five months later, 15,000 students are going to be chosen to become finalists.

Assistant Principal Tom Beach believes students that secure the award should be recognized to set an example for others.

“A National Merit final is a high price. It sends a message to the colleges that you’re going (to apply to) that you are one of the best in the entire country,” Beach said. “If you’re picking four colleges, the odds are that all four are gonna want you because they know that you are one of the top of the top in the entire country, so it’s a pretty big deal.”

Superintendent Dr. Gary Niehaus hopes this experience will allow him to honor students and give them a chance to strengthen their resumes. At the board meeting, the honored students will be given a certificate signed by the Superintendent and Board President.

Semifinalist senior Mason Liagre has already been impacted by the overwhelming influence of the award.

“My Gmail inbox is full of colleges (whose) opening lines of the email are about the National Merit Scholarship,” Liagre said. “I mean my outlook on college has probably gone from pretty nervous about it to a little bit more confident. I think that’s the main change. I feel a little bit more better about myself as well because it’s a pretty big honor.”