The Bee Cave Bee

Lake Travis High School (LTHS) principal Kimberly Brents is pleased to announce that 24 seniors have been recognized by the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program.

These students entered the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) as high school juniors in 2013. They were chosen from more than 1.5 million program entrants and represent less than one percent of each state’s high school seniors. According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, these students are the top scorers from each state and show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Additionally, the National Hispanic Recognition Program identifies nearly 5,000 outstanding Hispanic/Latino students each year, while the National Achievement Scholarship Program provides recognition for outstanding Black American high school students.

“We are very proud of these students for their remarkable achievements,” said Kimberly Brents, LTHS principal. “Our students continue to raise the bar on academic excellence. Their success not only reflects the quality and caliber of our teachers and staff who directly impact student learning, it also reflects the support and commitment of their parents who are instrumental to their success.”

Earlier this month, approximately two‐thirds of the 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT received letters of commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended students are named on the basis of a nationally applied index score that may vary from year to year. The remaining one‐third of these students were then notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists and are eligible to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Semifinalists advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements.

In February 2015, some 15,000 Semifinalists will be notified by mail that they have advanced to Finalist standing.