Beavercreek:

More than 40 local high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program, based on their strong performance on the preliminary SAT exam (PSAT) last school year.

About 1.6 million juniors nationwide took the PSAT last year, and roughly 16,000, or 1 percent, were named semifinalists based on their scores, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

The local semifinalists include students from local public, Catholic and private schools, as well as a homeschooled student.

Semifinalists can apply to earn finalist status and compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. To do so, they must have an outstanding academic record, be recommended by a high school official, and earn SAT scores that confirm their earlier performance on the qualifying test.

About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing in February, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship. Here are the local winners, in alphabetical order by high school: James T. Collins and Kate Louthain

William M. Chan, David C. Cohen, Diana A. Dinh, Brian Dong, Rachel E. Goehring, Zhan Peng Kuang, Peyton M. Orloff, Amy Sihn, Ziyi Zuo

Andrew Haberlandt, Eva J. Hanson

Toan Le, Peter

Bellbrook: Carroll:

J. Menart

Cedarville:

Heath

Fairmont:

Benjamin L.

Celina: Centerville:

Madeline M. Elston Noor Ali, Ramzi K. Elased, Megan J. Knauer, Caroline M. Kost, Samith Venkatesh, Evan M. West, Kyle M. Westhaus Luke M. Keller

Miamisburg:

Knapp

Minster: Monroe: Oakwood: Springboro:

Abele

Wapakoneta:

Hire A. Day Ethan F.

Miami Valley School:

Risha Annamraju, John H. Butler Erin Keller Rachel N. Ploeger Joseph M. Caley, Hannah R. Grupe, Connor P. Morris, Sara E. Pierce Lindsey Coffin, Isaac S. Poplin, Hannah R. Stumpfl, Rees D. Warns Troy

Vandalia-Butler:

Loren K.

Xenia, homeschool:

Catherine T. Mohs

Yellow Springs:

Peter