Two Natchez teens have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Casey Etheridge, Adams County Christian School, and Sanquanett Jones, Natchez High School, are now eligible to compete for more than $31 million in scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Both young women qualified as semifinalists based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT as juniors. Only 1 percent of high school seniors were named semifinalists.

Etheridge, 17, said she was surprised to learn she was a semifinalist when the results were announced in August. &uot;I really didn’t think I had done that well (on the test),&uot; she said, noting her strong subject is English, but she is not as confident about her math skills.

With the recognition comes some benefits, like a free tuition offer from Bellhaven College, which Etheridge said takes &uot;some of the pressure off&uot; her academic studies.

While she is not sure yet just how she will put her talents to use, Etheridge said she has considered careers in veterinary medicine, teaching and writing.

&uot;I want to get into something that helps others, that benefits people somehow,&uot; Etheridge said. &uot;I have so many interests, it’s hard to narrow it down.&uot;

Jones, also 17, said she was equally surprised by the recognition, especially since she had just learned she was also a semifinalist in a related academic competition for black high school students. &uot;It was really all in the same day,&uot; Jones said. &uot;Maybe about five minutes between them.&uot;

Not just an academic achiever, Jones tutors children out of her home, is the youth director for Tobacco Awareness Buddies Outreach Organization (TABOO) and works an after-school job, while studying in &uot;those brief moments in between,&uot; she said.

Etheridge lists among her activities the Mayor’s Youth Council and serving as a Quiz Bowl competitor, Student Council vice president and Honor Society president.

Etheridge and Jones will now compete with 16,000 others across the country for the title of finalist, which is determined by scoring on the ACT, overall high school academic record, recommendation by their schools’ principals and a self-descriptive essay.

Finalists will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.