The partnership of the McCallie School and Girls Preparatory School had nine students named National Merit Semifinalists this year. This prestigious academic honor places these seniors among the top one percent, or roughly 16,000, of the more than 1.5 million juniors who took the Preliminary SAT last year.
Earning the academic honor are five McCallie students and four students from GPS.
McCallie’s Semifinalists include: Roger Lee, Hixson; Peter Lugthart, Rocky Face, Ga.; Matt McCall, Signal Mountain; John Eric Milller, Rocky Face, Ga.; and Philip Zeiser, Signal Mountain.
Semifinalists from GPS are Anna Carroll, Chattanooga; Rebecca Jenkins, Chattanooga; Megan Rohn, Signal Mountain; and Lucy Whitfield, Signal Mountain.
“This achievement places these scholars among elite company with their peers nationwide,” McCallie Headmaster Kirk Walker ’69 said.
Dr. Sue Groesbeck, interim head of School at GPS, lauded the girls’ academic records, participation in school activities and leadership qualities.
All semifinalists will now be considered for National Merit Finalist status and could be one of about 8,000 students across the nation to earn National Merit Scholarships to the college of university of their choice.