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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Seniors Charles Lowery and Tanner Reid of Thompson High School have been named finalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship program.

Reid and Lower have successfully been named finalists after successfully advancing through the initial screening, semi-finals and submitting scholarship applications in the finalist round.

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, The National Merit Scholarship program is an annual competition among high school students for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships.

More than 1.3 million high school juniors from 21,000 high schools took the 2023 Preliminary SAT and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test. Lowery and Reid were among 16,000 to advance forward in fall 2024 after being named semifinalists.

In order to advance to the semi-finalist round, students need to have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed by a high school official, write an essay and earn ACT or SAT scores to confirm their previous performance on the qualifying tested.

Lowery and Reid have both been named finalists after also submitting scholarship applications that highlighted their academic performance, participation in community and school-based activities, leadership abilities, employment and accolades.

The selection of the National Merit Scholarship winners is currently in progress and will see the about half of the current 15,000 finalists earn the Merit Scholar title.

Lowery is the son of Mary and Charles Lowery of Alabaster. He plans to attend the University of Alabama after graduating in May and intends to major in electrical engineering.

Reid is the son of Kimberly and Michael Reid of Alabaster. After graduation in May, he plans to be a chemistry major at the University of South Alabama as he pursues a graduate degree in pharmacy.