Officials named Arendell Parrott Academy student, Miss Carolina Jones (Kinston), as one of more than 16,000 Semifinalist in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth $26 million that will be offered next spring. 

In April, Carolina was among 50,000 students across the country who qualified for the National Merit Scholarship Competition based on her PSAT / NMSQT Selection Index Score (calculated from the Reading and Writing, and Math section scores). Carolina is among one-third of the 50,000 high scorers who have qualified as Semifinalists – the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Congratulations, Carolina Jones.