Five local National Merit Scholarship Program finalists have been named. They represent less than one percent of high school seniors in the United States.

Finalists are Flathead High School seniors Jenna McGuire and Glenn Strickler, Glacier High School senior Kaitlin McHugh, Libby High School senior Cody Barrick and Stillwater Christian School senior Austin Hirsch.

About 1.5 million juniors entered the 2014 program by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Before students became finalists they had to qualify as semifinalists. To qualify, students showed outstanding academic records throughout high school, were endorsed by high school officials, submitted essays and earned SAT scores that confirmed their earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Other local semifinalists were Katelyn Weed of Flathead and Gunnar Boose of Bigfork. Boose will attend the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

To advance to finalist status, students had to submit scholarship applications that provided information about their academic records, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards.

Finalists will compete for National Merit scholarships.

Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.