A-JCHS student Elizabeth Bell named National Merit Finalist

Anna-Jonesboro Community High School principal Brett Detering has announced that the National Merit Scholarship Program has honored Elizabeth Bell as a National Merit Finalist.

The A-JCHS senior was one of only four Southern Illinois high school students to have reached the semifinalist level.

School officials said it’s not yet known whether the other three students also advanced to the highest plateau along with Bell.

More than 1.5 million sophomores took the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in October 2008. 

The top 16,000 were named semifinalists.

Semifinalists then took additional tests and submitted essays and letters of recommendation from their principals. 

Students selected as finalists are in a group representing less than 1 percent of the top scholars in the United States.

A-JCHS guidance counselor Carol Carter’s records indicate that the national PSAT test was first administered to A-J students in the spring of 1959. 

According to her research, Anna’s Bon Bouton Hartline was the first A-J student to score at the 99th percentile, and since that time, only 15 A-J students have accomplished the feat.

Eighty-two hundred finalists are eligible for consideration to receive financial awards from a $47 million pool provided by the National Merit Scholarship Program, corporate donors, and participating universities.

“We are pleased when students challenge themselves by choosing rigorous classes and understand the value of preparing to do their best on national tests like the PSAT, ACT, and SAT," A-JCHS principal Detering said.

"A core group of students in the class of 2010 did those things and will reap the benefits of their diligent work ethic and self-discipline as they move forward in their academic careers. 

"Elizabeth’s recognition as a National Merit Finalist is a testament to a shared commitment to excellence on the part of Elizabeth, her parents, and the faculty at A-JCHS. We are proud of Elizabeth’s rare achievement and hope that others will follow her lead.”

Bell is the daughter of Bruce and Jill Bell.

Bell was awarded a swimming scholarship to the University of Illinois and was recently notified that her academic record and test scores resulted in her being a recipient of one of the 30 Provost Scholarships awarded by the university.