DAPHNE, Ala.—Three Bayside Academy seniors were recently named 2009 National Merit semifinalists in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Hillary Donnell, Megan Sessel and Carrington Sweet are among approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide who will continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit scholarships, worth more than $35 million, that will be offered next spring.

Bayside seniors Dennis Dowd, Maret Miller and Ian Shields were named National Merit Commended Scholars.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Program. Scholarships are underwritten by the corporation’s own funds and approximately 500 business organizations and higher education institutions that share its goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.