Detroit — Twenty-six students from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit have been announced as semifinalists for the prestigious National Merit Scholarship, and another eight students have been named semifinalists for the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

The National Merit Scholarship is awarded annually to just 8,000 students nationwide out of a pool of more than 1.5 million entrants. The National Achievement Scholarship is awarded annually to high-achieving African-American high school seniors, with just 800 students expected to earn the award nationwide. Winners of both scholarships will be announced during the spring.

National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists:

Marian High School: Riley M. Dankovich, Shannon C. Stork; Brother Rice High School: Tomas M. Espinosa, Sammy J. Stevens; Divine Child High School: Shawki A. Atassi, Joseph M. Moss; University of Detroit Jesuit: Matthew A. Cullen, Austin D. Mitchell, Andrew Mueller, Sai V. Nimmagadda, Peter O’Shea, Michael J. Wallace; Mercy High School: Cassidy E. Connolly, Alise Wenner; St. Mary Catholic Central: Elizabeth M. Anteau; Detroit Catholic Central: Mark D. Bilger, Thomas K. Ganss, Neil M. Robinson; Pontiac Notre Dame Prep: Kathleen E. Finn, Ben T. Sutkiewicz, Riverview Gabriel Richard: Christian E. Smith; Shrine High School: Madeleine A. Krick, Warren De La Salle: Nolan M. Kavanagh; Regina High School: Rachel R. Cueny, Mary Grahame Hunter, Maria C. VanBerkum

National Achievement Scholarship Program semifinalists:

Brother Rice High School: Ikechukwu C. Onwuzurike; Detroit Cristo Rey High School: Candice E. Ware; University of Detroit Jesuit: Krystyn D. Riley, Cole R. West; Mercy High School: Jasmine A. Hunt, Tyler M. Parlor; Detroit Catholic Central: Gregory A. Johnson; Regina High School: Melinda R. Billingsley