Long Island's 2013 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

Nearly 200 Long Island high school seniors were named semifinalists Sept. 12 in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among about 16,000 high school seniors nationwide to achieve the distinction -- less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors. The national semifinalists represent almost one-third of the 50,000 highest scorers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). That test was given to about 1.5 million of the students in October 2011, when they were high school juniors.

Semifinalists submit academic records and information about their achievements and activities, along with a personal essay. In February, they learn if they are among 15,000 finalists. National Merit Scholars are chosen from that group and awarded some 8,300 scholarships, worth more than $32 million, next spring and summer.