Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced the names of about 16,000 semifinalists in the 60th annual National Merit Scholarship Program recently.

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 7,600 National Merit scholarships worth about $33 million that will be offered next spring.

Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level.

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.

Local students named as semifinalists are:

ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE AND DESIGN, NASHUA: Alexander H. Jaferey, Bryan M. Li and Michael Z. Preminger.

ALVIRNE HIGH SCHOOL, HUDSON: Timothy J. Campbell and Aleah A. Peffer.

BISHOP GUERTIN HIGH SCHOOL: Lillie R. McGary.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE HIGH SCHOOL: Rebecca L. Cherian and Logan A. Pucci.

MERRIMACK HIGH SCHOOL: Isabelle N. Beauregard, Hersh Rai and Blake J. Williams.

NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL NORTH: Hannah M. Jauris, Nicholas G. Paraggio and Kaylee A. Smith.

NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH: Jacqueline S. Chea, Samarth M. Desai and Pooja G. Welling.