Rio Rancho students named as semifinalists in scholarship program

RIO RANCHO — Four students from Rio Rancho Schools have been named as semifinalists in a nationally recognized scholarship program.

Owen Petersen from The ASK Academy; Lauryn R. McKee and Katelyn Opie of Cleveland High School; and Jacob J. Rice, Rio Rancho High School, are a few of the more than than 16,000 semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, according to a news release.

These local students — representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors — must fulfill several requirements before advancing to the finalist level of the competition, held in the spring, the release stated.

Almost all of the semifinalists will earn finalist status, but only about half of them will win a National Merit Scholarship and earn the Merit Scholar title, according to the release.

Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarships worth $2,500, the release said.

The winners will be announced between April and July.