Thomasville High Scholars Academy Class of 2020 senior Braxton Sizemore is the only resident of Thomasville and Thomas County to be named as a 2020 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced on September 11, 2019, the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. In February, Finalists will be notified of their designation.
NMSC, a not-for profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 400 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2020 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarships recipients will join more than 35,000 other distinguished people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.