Shawnee recognizes three National Merit Scholar Semifinalists

National Merit Scholars semifinalists Cooper Dunn, Kimberly Albers and Anthony Newsom pose with the Shawnee Board of Education during the Sept. 14 meeting. The Board, from left, are Clif Harden, Casey White, Turner Bass, Jeanne Swinney, Mandy Hillhouse and Kristen Wilson, with Superintendent Dr. Jason James, far right. (Board member Russ Oliver was not present.) Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun
National Merit Scholars semifinalists Cooper Dunn, Kimberly Albers and Anthony Newsom pose with the Shawnee Board of Education during the Sept. 14 meeting. The Board, from left, are Clif Harden, Casey White, Turner Bass, Jeanne Swinney, Mandy Hillhouse and Kristen Wilson, with Superintendent Dr. Jason James, far right. (Board member Russ Oliver was not present.) Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

During the Sept. 14 Shawnee School Board meeting, three Shawnee High School seniors were recognized as National Merit Scholars semifinalists - something only about 16,000 students in the US can claim, according to an SPS press release.

They are Kimberly Albers, Cooper Dunn and Anthony Newsom, and all three were reluctantly late to Pride of the Pack marching band practice that night to attend the me…