Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist

Redondo Union High School senior Katie Antilla has earned a place as a 2013 National Merit Semifinalist, the nonprofit National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Wednesday.

The only Redondo Union student to receive the honor this year, Antilla is among the about 16,000 semifinalists nationally in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

The students will compete for about 8,300 scholarships worth more than a total $32 million. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to make it to the finals and just more than half of the finalists will win a scholarship.

The students—including Antilla—were judged by their scores on standardized tests, their grades, an essay and extracurricular activities.

This is not Antilla's first academic honor. According to a notice posted on Redondo Union's online weekly bulletin, Antilla's score last year on the Southern California American Chemical Society High School Chemistry Olympiad Exam was one of the top 10, qualifying her to compete for a place on the National High school Chemistry Olympiad Team. She was the only student in the South Bay to qualify.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation was established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program, according to a news release from the nonprofit organization. The scholarships are provided by the organization and about 440 businesses and educational institutions.

—City News Service contributed to this report.