Marion County High School senior Will Blake was recently named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, making him one of approximately 15,000 students nationwide to receive the honor.
Earlier this year, Blake learned he had been selected as a semifinalist based on his performance on the PSAT. According to the NMSC website, the students selected as semifinalists represent less than one percent of high school seniors across the country.
Blake then completed an application in order to be selected as a finalist. He said after completing the application, the possibility of becoming a finalist wasn’t on his mind until he received the good news.
“It was completely out of my mind,” he said. “I actually thought I wouldn’t be notified until May. So, it was a complete shock -- I had no clue it would be coming that early.”
Counselor Rachael Trent had encouraged Blake to take the PSAT as a junior as a way to better position himself as a candidate for the Governor’s Scholars Program. After he received his results, Trent told him that she thought he would be a strong candidate for the National Merit Scholarship.
“I think [taking the PSAT] is a great opportunity that the school provides,” Blake said. “I think getting as many as possible is a huge thing.”