Self-confidence and hard work have propelled Badin High School seniors Tyler Abner and Reed “Rudy” Joesting to outstanding academic performance at BHS. Their latest success – being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

“There’s no secret to success,” said Abner, the son of Pete and Lori Abner of Hamilton and a graduate of Queen of Peace School. “You just have to keep studying. You work hard day-in and day-out and pay attention to what you’re supposed to be doing every day."

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation of Evanston, Ill., will award more than 7,000 National Merit Scholarships in the spring. Those eligible students – like Abner and Joesting – are being recognized for their outstanding performance on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) taken in the fall of their junior years.

“These two young men are outstanding students and quality people,” BHS Principal Patrick Keating said. “They work hard, have great academic skills, and have the drive to do well in the challenging course load they have laid out for themselves. Being a National Merit Semifinalist is a great achievement and well-earned on their part.”

“This was something I was hoping to achieve,” Joesting nodded of the Semifinal designation. “I’m thankful for all the support I’ve received from my family, pushing me to do my best. Obviously some of this (success) is a gift from God, but you have to be able to apply yourself in all areas.”

The 16,000 Semifinalists throughout the country represent about 1 percent of American high school students who took the test in the fall of 2022. Of those, about 95 percent will achieve Finalist status based on a few additional parameters and be eligible for the $28 million in scholarship dollars to be awarded.

Joesting, the son of Emily and Rich Joesting of Fairfield Township and a graduate of Fairfield Crossroads Middle School, is one of several students tied for No. 1 in the Badin Class of 2024. Abner is tied as well among a group of top academic students.

“It’s been sort of a competition,” Joesting nodded. “It’s been nice to have a group of Honors students together – you get super close. You know what everyone is experiencing. You push each other. Everybody cares and wants to be there (in the classes).”

Abner said he was “excited” to get the recognition as he plans on going to college in a Pre-Med major. “Science, Biology, Physiology – it’s all interesting to me. Even in Study Hall earlier today, I was just sitting there reading about Physics.”

Abner plays football, is a wrestler, and volunteers at Fort Hamilton Hospital. He is looking at schools such as Indiana University, the University of Kentucky, Ohio University, West Virginia University and the University of Cincinnati with the goal of becoming a doctor.

Joesting runs cross country and volunteers at the Community Meal Center in Hamilton. He would like to attend the University of Alabama – his older brother, Ryan, is a sophomore there – and study Chemical Engineering in their five-year STEM to MBA program.

Badin has now had five National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in the past three years, along with three previous National Merit Commended Students. That latter announcement will come next month. In addition, Badin has two College Board African American Scholars this year in seniors Payson Wilks and Sophia Williams.

Ultimately, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corp., about half of the National Merit Scholarship Finalists will win a Merit Scholarship and become Merit Scholars. The NMSC was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by the NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 320 business organizations and higher education institutions that share the corporation’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence. This is their 69th year of awarding National Merit Scholarships.