William Adair '69, Jim Birchfield '69, Ann Blonston '69, and Katherine Kinney '69 are Maine West semifinalists this year in the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

These semifinalists must advance to finalist standing to be considered for Merit Scholarships. They become finalists by receiving the endorsement of the Maine West administration and faculty, submitting scores from a second test, and providing information about their achievements and interests.

Bill, Jim, Ann, and Kathy are eligible for one of the 1,000 National Merit $1,000 scholarships or for one of many four‑year scholarships provided by some 400 various organizations and individuals.

The purpose of the National Merit Scholarship program is to honor publicly those students worthy of recognition because of high National Merit Test scores, outstanding academic achievement, and notable leadership qualities.

The semifinalists will be notified if they become finalists in March of next year. The type of scholarship they will receive will then be revealed by May of 1969. Ninety‑seven per cent of all semifinalists become finalists.

The semifinalists represent less than one per cent of American high school students graduating in 1969. They were selected on the basis of results from the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test given to juniors in the upper half of their classes throughout the United States last spring.

Maine West seniors who did not qualify as semifinalists, but who received letters of commendation are Bob Aulert, Greg Caravelli, John Doyle, Donna Ellwanger, Sue Evans, and Scott Ferraiolo.

Others include Marc Forkins, Dorothy French, Bib Glitz, Judy Henk, Kurt Krebs, Don Kron, Sandy Lauffenburger, Nancy Lilja, Bob Lumpp, and Tom Outlaw.

Also receiving letters of commendation were Laurel Paul, Carol Rohde, Ron Strand, Cliff Strom, Janice Thain, Alan Utes, and Rich Wilson.

Unlike last year, no special faculty committee has been formed to evaluate the semifinalists. Instead, the former and present teachers of these students, their counselors, and members of the administration will collectively consider the recognition due each semifinalist. Their decisions will be considered by the National Merit 'Scholarship Qualifying Test committee in selecting this year's finalists.

In the Maine Township high school district there is a total of 19 semifinalists who aspire to become finalists.

Last year eight seniors hon­ored Maine West by being categorized as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.