Two area students have been selected as semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Emma Beachy of Kalona and David Fleming of Wellman have been chosen to continue in the competition for about 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. Semifinalists are selected from 1.6 million juniors who took the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. To become a finalist, the semifinalist must submit a detailed application providing information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. From the roughly 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level, and will be notified in February of this designation. Approximately half of finalists will be offered the scholarships and earn the title of Merit Scholar.