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South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Celebrates Two National Achievement Semifinalists

Two members of the class of 2012 at the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) were recently named National Achievement Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). These academically motivated students are now eligible for continued competition in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

NMSC chose approximately 1,600 semifinalists from across the nation, including 467 in the Southeast region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina). All became immediately competitive for nearly 800 scholarships worth more than $2.4 million.

GSSM’s National Achievement Semifinalists are Jalen C. Benjamin of Effingham and Maya Mason of Aiken.

"Our school continues to boast semifinalists year after year,” said Dr. Murray Brockman, GSSM president. “This speaks volumes about the dedication and commitment of the students, their families and our outstanding faculty.”

The program begins with students taking the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). Semifinalists across the nation are then named based on the highest-scoring entrants in each state. A student becomes a finalist based on academic record, high school principal endorsement and an SAT score confirming their qualifying test score.

Approximately 80 percent of semifinalists are predicted to become finalists. Scholarship awards will be announced in early April 2012.