Harding Charter Prep has produced four National Merit semifinalists.

Seniors Jorja Rose, Hunter Swisher, Noel Wellman and Rachel Wood have all been selected to be National Merit semifinalists.

The semifinalists had to score in the top percentage of the nation for the PSAT. This is the most National Merit semifinalists HCP has produced in its nine-year history.

“I have worked towards academic success in my three plus years in high school and it means I have accomplished something that means something to me,” Rose said.

Becoming a National Merit scholar opens up more scholarship opportunities. It separates the students from the majority for colleges to recognize.

“I think that being a National Merit semifinalist is a validation of all the hard work Harding has put me through,” Wood said.

Principal Justin Hunt said that the individual’s success shows Harding’s education and preparation it provides as a school.

“For a school of 500 students and we have four semifinalists, that is remarkable,” Hunt said.

For the semifinalists, accomplishing this is a recognition of the individual’s hard work.

“They were all in the PSAT team, they put extra time in the summer and in Saturday school to achieve this success,” said counselor Linda Marshall.

Marshall also agreed with Hunt, saying that having four semifinalists reflects well on the school and the rigorous classes.

“I am really thankful to Harding because I think that made a difference in what I did and bettered my score,” Wellman said.

The next step for these four students is to take the SAT by December of this year to confirm their performance on the PSAT.