Congratulations to Ballard High School senior, Jesse V. Chugani, for becoming a semi-finalist for the 2010 National Merit Scholarship program. Chugani is one of 24 students selected in Seattle and 16,000 students nationwide. Finalists will be notified in February and according to the National Merit website, there are several steps to become a finalist. “These include completing an application, having a consistently very high academic record, writing an essay, being endorsed and recommended by a school official, and taking the SAT® and earning a score that confirms the PSAT/NMSQT performance.” According to Seattle Public Schools, 90 percent of all semi-finalists are expected to move on. After finalists are selected, they will compete for 8,200 National Merit Scholarships worth more that $36 million.