PLATTEVILLE — Four Platteville High School seniors are among 16,000 semifinalists in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Laurel A. Barnet, Tessa M. Collins, Phoebe E. Moore and Minjoo Son were named as semifinalists this week. Jason S. Derby of Cuba City High School also is a semifinalist.

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 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.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2013.

Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 240 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance 4,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.