JAMES SMITH

MALCOLM TAYLOR

Photos: 2007-08 Yearbook

URBANA — Seniors James Smith and Malcolm Taylor are among only 3,100 students to be named Outstanding Participants in the 2009 National Achievement Scholarship Program.

The NASP is an academic competition run by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

The program was started in 1964 to recognize black American high school seniors with exceptional academic promise. Approximately 150,000 students entered this year's competition by filling in Section 14 on the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year.

In the initial phase, the program honors about 4,700 students each year based on their test scores: 3,100 as Outstanding Participants and 1,600 as Semifinalists.

Only Semifinalists advance in the competition, which ends with the awarding of National Achievement Scholarships in late January.

In late September, the names of all Outstanding Participants were sent to admissions officers at approximately 1,500 colleges and universities around the country, along with information regarding each student's current high school and tentative college major.

High school principals also received notification if any of their students had been selected as Outstanding Participants. Principals received certificates of recognition to present to each of their honorees.

Last year Frankie McFarland was named a Semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.