Pillow Academy senior Drew Miller has qualified as a 2011 National Merit semifinalist, making him one of the nation’s top academic achievers.
The son of Jim and Lana Miller of Greenwood, Drew is one of about 16,000 students from across the country who have been named semifinalists during the 56th year of the annual program.
“It’s a pretty big honor to be a semifinalist,” the 18-year-old said. “I attribute my success to my family for all the support and encouragement they have given me.”
Drew was one of the more than 1.5 million juniors who entered in the 2010 competition by taking the Preliminary SAT and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and include the highest scoring entrants from each state.
He has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $36 million next spring. About 90 percent of semi-finalists are expected to attain finalist standing.
Drew has attended Pillow Academy for 12 years, and his favorite subjects throughout school have been math and science.
He is president of the Junior Engineering Technical Society, a member of the soccer team, Pillow Academy Band and International Thespian Society and a Green and Gold Ambassador.
“He is an outstanding student with high moral standards, character and integrity,” Geraldine DeLoach, counselor at Pillow, said. “He is an independent young man and self-motivated.”
Drew is also a member North Greenwood Baptist Church, where he is active in their youth and student ministries program.
He plans to attend Ole Miss in fall 2011 and study engineering.
• Contact Andrea Hall at ahall@gwcommonwealth.com.
