High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)—a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year. Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. Robert may now participate in the scholarship application process to potentially earn a scholarship and the title of Finalist.
On November 3, 2016, Robert will be honored at a special ceremony at Honda of America Manufacturing in Marysville. He was selected based on strong academic performance and outstanding capability in mathematics. Robert plans on majoring in Biological Engineering/Biochemistry.