--- title: Five Students Named 2021 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists description: "Tampa Prep announces 5 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists from its Class of 2021: Timothy Calco, Grace Harris, Andrew Kim, Ava Vellines and Connor White." image: https://blog.tampaprep.org/hubfs/Natnl%20Merit%20Schol%20group%202021%20copy.jpg --- [![Tampa Preparatory School](https://tampaprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/TampaLogo.png)](https://tampaprep.org) - [About](https://tampaprep.org/about) - [About](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/) - [Alumni](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/) - [Alumni Events](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/alumni-events/) - [Alumni Resources](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/alumni/alumni-resources/) - [Career Opportunities](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/career-opportunities/) - [Contact Us](https://tampaprep.org/about-tampa-preparatory-school/contact-us/) - 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These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. **Tampa Prep is very pleased to announce five National Merit Scholar Semifinalists from its Class of 2021: Timothy Calco, Grace Harris, Andrew Kim, Ava Vellines and Connor White. We are immensely proud of these students!** | ![Tim Calco](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Tim%20Calco.jpg?width=150&name=Tim%20Calco.jpg) Tim Calco | ![11 - Harris_Grace-1](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/11%20-%20Harris_Grace-1.jpg?width=150&name=11%20-%20Harris_Grace-1.jpg) [Grace Harris](https://tampaprep.org/discover/meet-our-students/grace-21/) | ![11 - Kim_Andrew-1](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/11%20-%20Kim_Andrew-1.jpg?width=150&name=11%20-%20Kim_Andrew-1.jpg) Andrew Kim | ![11 - Vellines_Ava-1](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/11%20-%20Vellines_Ava-1.jpg?width=150&name=11%20-%20Vellines_Ava-1.jpg) Ava Vellines | ![11 - White_Connor-1](https://blog.tampaprep.org/hs-fs/hubfs/11%20-%20White_Connor-1.jpg?width=150&name=11%20-%20White_Connor-1.jpg) Connor White | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.  NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955, specifically to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 400 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC's goals of honoring the nation's scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence. 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