Senior Sarah Wu is a semi-finalist for the Merit Scholarship. About 16,000 students nationwide earn this honor, based on performance on standardized tests, and have the chance to apply for the National Merit Scholarship, based on test scores and academic performance and leadership. In February, Wu will learn if she advances to the next round of finalists. Meanwhile, three seniors have been named finalists for the Posse Scholarship. The scholarship provides free tuition for several schools. This scholarship helps build a “posse” or supportive group of students who help each other persist and gain leadership skills in college. Finalists include Serena Jones, Hamadi Brewer, and Alex Hagen. They will learn in the next few weeks, after additional interviews, whether they will be awarded the coveted scholarship. Previous Posse scholarship winners from Washington Latin include 2016 graduate Conor Moore, 2015 graduates Maddie Galvez and Olivia Boyd, 2013 graduate Desmond Miller, and 2012 graduate Farris Nabih and Anaka Osborne.