The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently named West Islip High School seniors Christopher Murray and Amanda Porter as semi-finalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Christopher and Amanda were two of the 16,000 semi-finalists named nationally who will be competing for 8,200 Merit Scholarships, worth $34 million, that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to the finalist stage.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Program. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by NMSC's own funds and by approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC's goals for honoring the nation's scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence. Shown in the photo are National Merit Semi-finalists Christopher Murray and Amanda Porter.