Mission Viejo Students Named Achievement Scholarship Semifinalists

By Nicole Mooradian

Two seniors from Mission Viejo schools are National Achievement Scholarship Program semifinalists, according to a recent National Merit Scholarship Corporation announcement.

Joel A. Reise of Capistrano Valley High School and Mezu C. Ukah of Trabuco Hills High are two of more than 1,600 high school students competing for about 800 Achievement Scholarship awards, which recognize "academically promising black students throughout the nation," according to the NMSC. 

About 80 percent of the semifinalists are expected to become finalists, and more than half of the finalists will win an Achievement Scholarship.

To become finalists, semifinalists and their high schools submit detailed scholarship applications, including information about academic records, participation, community activities and educational goals; an essay; earn high SAT scores; and be endorsed by a high school official.

Finalists will be announced in January. More than $2.5 million has been set aside for this year's scholarships. Corporate and business sponsors will underwrite about 100 Achievement Scholarship awards for finalists who meet criteria set by the grantor.

More than 160,000 high school juniors from across the United States entered the scholarship competition when the took the 2012 PSAT.