Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) announced that four Central High School students have been named Finalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These students rank among the top one percent of U.S. high school seniors.

The Central High School Finalists are Arthur Lijewski-Lee, Alex Potrafke, Lillian Shev, and Helly Taylor. As Finalists, these students will compete for a share of nearly 7,000 National Merit Scholarships totaling approximately $26 million.

“We are incredibly proud of these four students for reaching the Finalist stage of this prestigious competition,” Dr. John VanWagoner, TCAPS Superintendent, said in a statement. “Their success is a testament to their hard work and the high standard of excellence maintained by our entire TCAPS staff.”

To become a Finalist, students must maintain an outstanding academic record and demonstrate strong leadership and community involvement. National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in nationwide waves beginning in April.