Allison Domingues, a senior at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, has been named a National Merit Semi-Finalist for 2013.

Allison is ranked number one in her class and is very involved in athletics and the arts, including cross country, track, Nordic skiing, and marching band.   In order to advance to Finalist standing, semifinalists must meet high academic standards and all other requirements provided to each semifinalist.

The National Merit Scholarship program is an academic recognition competition that began in 1955.  Approximately 1.5 million students enter the Scholarship program each year, with approximately one percent of those students advancing to finalist standing.  These students are the highest scoring entrants on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in each state and meet high academic standards, along with other requirements. 

Approximately 50,000 students with the highest scores (critical reading plus mathematics plus writing skills scores) qualify for recognition, and in September students are notified that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or a Semi-Finalist.  Approximately 16,000 are named National Merit Semi-Finalists, and those students will find out in February if they have advanced to Finalist standings.