Maria Mosley, daughter of Robert and Katherine Mosley, and Samuel Mounce, son of Daniel and Diane Mounce, were named as semifinalists.

Some 16,000 of the high scorers, representing less than 1 percent of the nation's high school graduating seniors, qualify as semifinalists in each annual National Merit Program. They are the only participants who have an opportunity to advance in the competition for some 8,300 Merit Scholarship Awards.

Matthew Mannion, son of Michael and Michele Mannion; Glen K. McClain and Meredith A. McClain, son and daughter of Kevin and Linda McClain; and Joseph Mocharnuk son of Robert and Erin Mocharnuk, have been named commended students.

About 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2013 competition for National Merit awards, commended students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2013 competition by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program or SHG's academic programs, please call the school office at (217)787-1595.