Two Richland 1 Seniors Named Semifinalists for National Achievement Scholarship

Jaleel A. Jefferson of Dreher High School and William C. Gray of Lower Richland High School are among the 48 South Carolina seniors named semifinalists in the prestigious and highly competitive 2014 National Achievement Scholarship Program.

This honor recognizes outstanding African-American high school seniors who are the highest scorers in their state on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Finalists in this scholarship competition are chosen based upon their abilities, accomplishments and their potential for success in their future college studies.

Richland One’s semifinalists will compete with 1,600 others across the nation for approximately 800 college scholarships worth more than $2.5 million. To advance to the finalist level, semifinalists must have a record of high academic performance in high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, earn high SAT scores and be actively involved in their school and community. Scholarships will be awarded to finalists next spring.