SENIOR FRANKIE McFARLAND is one of just 1,600 students to be named a 2008 semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, an academic competition run by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

The program was established in 1964 to recognize outstanding black American high school seniors. About 140,000 students entered the 2008 competition by marking Section 14 on the PSAT/NMSQT when they were juniors.

According to the program's Web site, National Achievement Semifinalists are named on a regional basis. Semifinalists are the highest-scoring program participants in the states that constitute each region.

McFarland will now be considered for finalist standing. About 1,300 finalists will be named in late January.

Candidates for finalist status must present a record of high academic performance, be recommended by their principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm their PSAT/NMSQT numbers. They must also have a school official complete an application that documents the student's school and community activities, leadership abilities, and educational goals.

Out of the selected finalists, some 700 will receive a single-payment National Achievement Scholarship worth $2,500. Another 100 will receive corporate-sponsored Achievement Scholarshp awards, which may be a one-time award or renewable for four years.

In all, more than $2.5 million in National Achievement awards will be distributed in the spring. Over the past 43 years, more than $88 million in awards have been given to 27,800 students.

Last year Josh Mitchell was named a National Achievement Semifinalist.