Wentzville’s Own Holt High National Merit Scholarship Finalists

The Wentzville School District announced that three Holt High School Seniors, Rachel Neff, William Rackers, and Hannah Steber, were selected as finalists for the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Selected students represent less than one percent of high school seniors in the United States.  Being selected gives them the opportunity to compete  for roughly 7,400 National Merit Scholarships which are worth more than $32 million. According to the district, Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of outstanding skills, accomplishments, and potential for their success in rigorous college studies.

To become a finalist in the competition, the semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application providing information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, honors and awards received.  Semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT/ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Pictured left to right are Rachel Neff who plans to study biochemistry (pre-med) at the University of Missouri – Columbia, Purdue University or the University of Maryland, College Park, Hannah Steber who plans to attend Arizona State University or Washington University in St. Louis and major in molecular and cellular biology, and William Rackers  who intends to major in chemistry at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas.