National Merit finalists: National Merit Scholarship finalists were selected out of 16,200 semifinalists nationwide who scored in the 99th percentile on the PSAT. They represent less than one-half of 1 percent of each state’s graduating class. Finalists will be considered for one of more than 7,000 scholarships to be awarded this spring. Among the local finalists:

Archbishop Murphy High School: Mark DeChadenedes, Katherine Robinson, Peter Sadowski and Ben Snyder

Henry M. Jackson High School: Bridgette Hannifin and Robbie Manhas

Cascade High School: Emma Breysse

Edmonds-Woodway High School: Emma Brewster, Karl Dray, Tom Giratikanon, Channing Jones, Sergey Karayev, Tony Kim, Jeanna Lee and Chen Xie.

Kamiak High School: Steven Johnston and James Chin.

Lake Stevens High School: Justine Sherry

Marysville-Pilchuck High School: Jill Houghton

Mariner High School: Jessica Uchacz

Meadowdale High School: Conner Peretti

Bothell High School: Brian Fouhy, Taylor LaFlam and Andrea Norman

Snohomish High School: Kaitlin A. Crowley

Washington Scholars: The Washington Scholars program recognizes the accomplishments of three high school seniors from each of the state’s 49 legislative districts. High schools nominate students in the top 1 percent of the graduating senior class on the basis of academic achievement, leadership and community service. Scholars receive scholarships to state institutions. A list of the local 2005 Washington Scholars, their city of residence, high school and intended college major:

Ryan W. Murray, Lynnwood, Lynnwood High, engineering

Kristi N. Goebel, Oak Harbor, Oak Harbor High, engineering

Brian J. Scoles, Clinton, South Whidbey High, undecided

Andra L. Shaughnessy, Camano Island, Stanwood High, engineering or physics

Melissa Morales, Mukilteo, Kamiak High, pre-medicine-int’l relations

Alison A. Teo, Edmonds, Holy Names Academy, biomed engineer-pre-medicine

Samuel C. Zipper, Edmonds, Edmonds-Woodway High, economics-pre-law

Clarissa A. Fidler, Everett, Everett High, exercise science

Peter A. Lee, Everett, Everett High, education-music

Rylee N. Wallace, Everett, Snohomish County Christian, biology

Caleb W. Barnhill, Sultan, Sultan High, pre-medicine

Garrett D. Swanburg, Monroe, Monroe High, business

Karl J. Typolt, Lake Stevens, Lake Stevens High, engineering

Brandon R. Roeder, Everett, Cascade High, music-astronomy

Mikaela J. Shotwell, Lake Stevens, Lake Stevens High, pre-medicine

Andrea R. Woods, Bothell, Cascade High, liberal arts-pre-law-music

Local 2005 Washington Scholar alternates:

Katherine E. Tremayne, Snohomish, Snohomish High, language (English-Spanish)

Grace N. Kidd, Stanwood, Stanwood High, architecture

Kelsey L. Maass, Lynnwood, Edmonds-Woodway High, mathematics-Spanish

Jonathan D. Mumm, Marysville, Marysville-Pilchuck High, computer science-business

Eliza R. Schillhammer, Arlington, Darrington High, undecided

Craig Q. Miller, Lake Stevens, Lake Stevens High, engineering

Speaking of scholars: This is the fifth-straight year Monroe High School has had a Washington Scholar come from among its ranks, representative of the 39th District, which includes eastern Snohomish and Skagit counties, a portion of Whatcom County and the town of Skykomish in King County.

Scholarship finalist: Sarah Keating, Everett, was one of 19 high school seniors to be named a finalist in the prestigious Ignatian Leaders Scholarship at Gonzaga University for the 2005-06 academic year. The finalist scholarship, which was established to recognize academic merit, leadership qualities and community service, is worth $8,000 over four years per student.

Tech students advance: The Henry M. Jackson High School Technology Student Association placed 15 times at the state competition. Eight students will travel to Chicago for the national competition this summer.

Band performs well: The Cascade High School band won several awards at a festival in Orlando, Fla., over spring break. In the 4A category, the school took first place in the concert band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, marching band and color guard competitions. In the “all” category, the school took first place for marching band. Also, three students won individual recognition: Rebecca Rice, Andrea Woods and Rachel Rice. Rachel also won a special recognition with $1,000 award.

Teachers honored: Everett High School teacher Ray Kent and Cascade High School teacher Melissa Webster were recognized as 2004 Claus Nobel Educators of Distinction by the National Society of High School Scholars for encouraging young people and helping them to achieve their goals. The National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence and encourages members to apply their unique talents, vision and potential for the betterment of themselves and the world.

Everett High School honors: Department scholars for March at Everett High School: Savanna Elam (art); Kevin Witte (DECA); Yelena Bocharnikova (ELL); Katelyn Price (English); Jessica Mamon (FACSE); Logan Ordona (health); Dylan Jess (math); Brianna Estes (music-band); Natasha Kippehan (music-choir); Robert Burdick (NJROTC); Jacob Anstett (PE boy); Lindsay Kronberger (PE girl); Nicole Barhanovich (science); Whitney Teague (social studies); Alex Wertheimer (world languages); and Natalia Perez (marketing).

All adds up: Braxton Osting of Arlington was part of a University of Washington math team that took top honors in an international math contest called the Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications. The UW team was one of just 13 teams judged as “outstanding winners” among 828 teams competing, including math powerhouses such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard and the University of California at Berkeley.

Food for thought: Mike Bratten, head wrestling coach at Explorer Middle School in south Everett, was recognized at his school for more than having an undefeated team. He introduced a “Food for Thought” program that brought students together to eat and study each Friday afternoon that is making a difference at the school.