Signal Mountain Middle High is proud to announce 4 National Merit Semifinalists
from the Class of 2021. Matthew Ashline, Carson Bock, Chase Post and
"Yoonie" Seo Yoon Yang represent the top 1.25% of seniors in the
nation.
This year’s group from SMMHS is the
largest number from any single public school in our area and represents the
rigor and standard of education that the teachers and students at SMMHS strive
for. These students qualified as Juniors last year by taking the Preliminary
SAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), the initial screen of program entrants. They are
among the 16,000 highest scorers nationwide of the 1.6 million students who
took the test, which evaluates critical reading, math, and writing skills.
These academically talented students will have the opportunity to continue in
the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million
that will be offered next spring. Of the 16,000 Semifinalists, over 90% are
expected to obtain Finalist standing and about half of the Finalists will win
a National Merit scholarship. SMMHS Principal, Dr.
Shane Harwood said, “We are so proud of Matthew, Carson, Chase, and Yoonie for
their amazing achievement of being recognized as National Merit
Semifinalists! Each of these students have worked so hard in seeking our
most rigorous courses while balancing their extracurricular activities and
commitments outside of school. This accomplishment is special, and we want
to congratulate these students, their teachers, and their families!”