Murray High School Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist
Murray, KY., Sept. 14—Kyra Shutt, Murray High School senior, has been named as a Semifinalist in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Tony Jarvis, MHS principal, said Shutt is a fantastic and well-rounded young person. “Kyra is involved in so many different activities, while also achieving excellence in the classroom. We are so very excited to see all the great things she achieves this year and beyond her time here at Murray High."
Shutt joins the approximate 16,000 Semifinalists named by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title. NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 400 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed Scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay.
From the Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are chosen based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
Shutt is an MHS Speech Team, FBLA, Math, Spanish, Creative Writing and Beta Club member. She is also a member of the ACT 30+ club, recognizing students who score 30 or above on the ACT, and a member of the MHS Student Council. A 2020 Governor Scholar Program Recipient, Shutt just completed the GSP with the 1,020 students accepted representing 55 percent of the total pool of candidates.
Shutt is the daughter of Lynda Harrington and Brant Shutt of Murray.