Ellie Byrd and Rachel Kamphaus were among the 16,000 students honored as semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The two seniors earned semifinalist status by being among the top PSAT scorers in the state of Florida. Both Byrd and Kamphaus are now eligible to continue on in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. 

According to National Merit, "about 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title." National Merit Finalists, who meet an additional set of academic requirements, are expected to be announced in February 2021.