Courtesy Photo Alpena High School seniors Matthew Fisher and Emeline Hanna have been selected as National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

Fisher and Hanna are National Merit finalists

Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) have selected two Alpena High School Students as National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

Emeline Hanna and Matthew Fisher were both chosen from the pool 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 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered this spring.

Over 1.6 million juniors in about 22,000 high schools entered the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors received.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2020 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.

Local students named to GVSU Dean’s List

Grand Valley State University has announced the names of students who were placed on the dean’s list for the Fall 2019 semester, which concluded in December. The list includes those students who have maintained a 3.5 grade-point average and been enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits. The honor is noted on the students’ official records.

Local students honored for the fall semester include: Alpena: Abigail A. Aikens; Sarah E. Belanger; Taylor R. Belanger; Eric N. Brink; Janelle C. Cook; Brianna Decker; Mylee E. Girard; Sydney R. Losinski; Elizabeth E. Lozen; Jordan M. Modrzynski; Amanda J. Oliver; Alicia M. Prevost; Alexis E. Smith; Starr K. Sumner; and Jenna E. VanDusen. Harrisville: Jordan A. Joyce. Hawks: Elizabeth L. Martin. Hillman: Grace A. Balog; and Kelsey N. Ferguson. Lewiston: Emily T. Damer; Hannah R. Mshar; and Connor L. Thornton. Rogers City: Aaron J. Romel; and Hannah M. Viegelahn.