Rashaud Wilson, a senior at Summerville High School, has been selected as a semifinalist in the 45th annual National Achievement Scholarship Program.
Of the more than 150,000 students nationwide who requested consideration in the 2009 National Achievement Scholarship Program, Wilson is among the 1,600 contestants remaining. Wilson and the other contestants will now compete for approximately 800 scholarships totaling more than $2.6 million, which will be awarded next year.
“Being a semifinalist is really exciting,” said Wilson. “It’s definitely an honor.”
Wilson, who hopes to be an accountant, will attend Trident Technical College in the fall of 2009. He credits four years of honors and AP courses as preparing him for college.
“Rashaud is a really hard working kid who has taken rigorous courses throughout his high school career,” said Summerville High School guidance counselor, Pat Toliver. “He is well thought of by all of the faculty and gets along wonderfully with his peers.”
Among the requirements to be considered a finalist in the competition, Wilson and the other semifinalists must show they have had high academic performance throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by their high school principal and earn SAT scores that meet competition requirements.
Award winners will be selected from this group based on their abilities, accomplishments and potential for success in their collegiate studies.
Initiated in 1964, the National Achievement Scholarship Program, conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, is designed to recognize academically promising black students throughout the nation and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding program participants.

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com