Craft Academy seniors named National Merit semifinalists

Left to right: Taylor Horsfall, Landon Hodge, Miles Saunders and Sawyer Putnam.

Four seniors at the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholars program.

The students are Landon Hodge of Lexington, Taylor Horsfall of Lexington, Sawyer Putnam of Lancaster and Miles Saunders of Owingsville.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year. In early September, more than 16,000 students, roughly one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, were notified that they had qualified as Semifinalists. Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis to ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool. Semifinalists are the highest-scoring entrants in each state. Finalists will be notified in February 2023.

The Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics is a dual-credit academy for academically exceptional Kentucky students. Craft Academy provides students with a postsecondary residential experience to complete their junior and senior high school years by enrolling in college courses.

The Craft Academy's purpose is to meet the unique educational needs of academically gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors in the Commonwealth. The academic rigor of the Craft Academy challenges students to excel at their highest level through project-based STEM+X courses and hands-on learning experiences, emphasizing innovation, design and creativity, and civic and regional engagement.

For more information about the Craft Academy, email craftacademy@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2093.