EDUCATION 3 from area to compete for awards

They were chosen based on their scores on a qualifying test.
Three area students are among the approximately 1,600 high school seniors from across the nation named semifinalists in the 2004 National Achievement Scholarship Program, an academic competition for black American high school students.
They were selected from a pool of 120,000 students.
The three are Todd E. Leverette of Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Allena L. Rouse of Fitch High School in Austintown and Travis A. Alexander of Alliance High School.
Todd plans to study business administration and become a business manager. Allena's goals are to study pre-medicine and become a physician. Travis plans to study engineering in college and pursue a design engineer career.
The students were chosen based on scores on the 2002 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. They now compete for more than 775 Achievement Scholarship awards worth $2.7 million total.
What's next
Roughly 1,300 students are expected to advance to the finalist level, based on abilities, accomplishments and potential for academic success in college. They must perform well in school, be nominated by their principal, earn high SAT scores, write an essay and provide information about school and community participation, leadership abilities and education goals.
The program was initiated in 1964 to honor outstanding black youths and increase their educational opportunities. It is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., a private, nonprofit group that operates without government assistance.
Awards are supported by corporate organizations, professional associations, higher education institutions and NMSC funds.