Two Urbandale High School Students Named National Merit Finalists

Urbandale High School is home to two National Merit Finalists this year.

Michael Clinkscales and Parker Howard earned the honor of being named 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists.

"Being selected as a National Merit Finalist is one of the highest academic honors a high school student can receive. The district is extremely proud of these two young men for their efforts and achievement; they work extremely hard and are deserving of this recognition," UHS Principal Richard Hutchinson and Superintendent Dr. Doug Stilwell said in a news release.

In order to be considered the students had to meet several requirements to move to the finalist level of the competition. About 15,000 semifinalists were expected to attain finalist standing in February 2013, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

The teens qualified to be National Merit Scholarship semifinalists by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT (PSAT).

From April to July 2013, the National Merit Scholarship winners of 2013 will be announced. The scholars will join more than 291,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.