HANCOCK – Shannon Nulf has done well during her time at Hancock Central High School, and in part because of that success, she was recently named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.

Nulf said the process to get into the National Merit Scholarship program begins by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Testing SceneMerit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“That determines the National Merit semifinalists,” she said. “If you score in the top 3 percent, you are commended as a scholar. If you score in the top 1 percent, you become a National Merit semifinalists.”

Those score percentages are by state, not national, Nulf said.

In order to move onto becoming a finalist, students must meet high academic standards and other requirements. Students are notified in February if they are a finalist. A finalist’s activities while in school, leadership abilities and an essay from the student are also needed to be chosen as a National Merit Scholar.

The National Merit Scholarship is $2,500. There are other corporate- and college-sponsored monetary awards, also.

Nulf said she intends to do a double major of kinesiology and dance in college. She has applied to eight universities, most of which are in the Midwest. Her top two choices are the University of Michigan and Northwestern University. She also applied to Western Michigan University.

“U of M is the goal,” she said. “I want to study science.”

At HCHS, Nulf said she’s concentrated heavily on science.

“I took all the science classes they offered,” she said.

Nulf said she sent out her applications to the universities just last week, so she hasn’t heard back from any of them, yet.

As of the end of last year, Nulf said she has a 4.0 grade point average at HCHS.

Kipp Beaudoin, Hancock Middle School and Central High School principal, said the fact Nulf was named as a NMS semifinalist is exciting.

“We’re extremely proud of her,” he said.

Beaudoin said Nulf has been a leader during her time at HCHS, both at the school and in the community. She has been a mentor to other students, an she is an officer in the student organizations to which she belongs.

“She has a can-do and will-do spirit,” he said. “Those are gifts her family has instilled in her.”

Beaudoin said many students have intellectual gifts, but not all of them put those gifts to work in the way Nulf has done.

“She cultivates those gifts,” he said.

Nulf said she is considering a career in physical therapy or doing sports kinesiology. She also would like to be some teaching eventually.

“That’s always been the end goal,” she said.