Twenty-four public and private school students from St. Tammany Parish have been named 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Students scored in the top 1 percent of all students participating in the PSAT test nationwide their junior year of high school.

The students are now eligible to compete for the prestigious National Merit Scholarships. To become a finalist, the semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying and submit a detailed application, including an essay and information about participation and leadership in school and community activities.

Shown are National Merit Semifinalists from Mandeville High School for 2009-2010, from left: Kelsey Bomar, April Zola Emerson, Betsy Bateman, Nathan Folse, Michelle Limbaugh, Ashley Chandler and Shelley Reese. These seniors scored in the top 1 percent nationwide of students taking the PSAT test.

The Merit Scholarships are awarded on the basis of skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Students named as semifinalists are listed by school as follows:

Covington High School: Jessica C. Salley;

Fontainebleau High School: Amy C. Deeble;

Mandeville High School: Marjorie E. Bateman, Kelsey A. Bomar, Ashley L. Chandler, April Zola Emerson, Nathan B. Folse, Michelle J. Limbaugh and Shelley E. Reese;

Northshore High School: Patrick A. Hallal, Leanna C. Kent and Heeryoung Kim;

Pope John Paul II High School: Sophie M. Krefft;

St. Paul’s School: Emmett J. Hummel, Michael D. Johnston, Brett M. Livaudais and Morgan J. Wells;

St. Scholastica Academy: Hannah E. Lomzenski, Amnah Rahman, Alexis R. Scheuermann, Bristie J. Smith and Holly A. Toups; and

Slidell High School: Dylan M. Dewenter and Kathryn E. McKenney.