1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring Karl Otness for being named a National Merit Semifinalist.
1.3WHEREAS, the National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for
1.4recognition and scholarships that began in 1955; and
1.5WHEREAS, high school students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking
1.6the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen
1.7of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year; in early September, about 16,000 students,
1.8or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified
1.9as Semifinalists; and
1.10WHEREAS, to ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United
1.11States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational
1.12basis; they are the highest scoring entrants in each state; and
1.13WHEREAS, to be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalists must
1.14advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other
1.15requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist; and
1.16WHEREAS, Karl Otness, an Edina High School student, was recently notified of
1.17his National Merit Semifinalist status, a tremendous honor deserving of special legislative
1.18recognition; and
1.19NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
1.20congratulates Karl Otness on being named a National Merit Semifinalist.
1.21BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
1.22enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
1.23Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Karl Otness.

1.24 1.25 1.26

JoAnne M. Zoff Secretary of the Senate

Thomas M. Bakk Chair, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

1.27 1.28

Melisa Franzen State Senator, District 49