Two Vicksburg students have advanced this year to the finalist round of the 2009 National Merit Scholarship program.

Rachel Clarke, a senior at St. Aloysius, and Kiefer Slaton, a senior at Vicksburg High School, were among 15,000 students nationwide chosen as finalists.

From the finalist round, 8,200 winners will be chosen for three types of Merit Scholarship Awards:

* 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarship Awards announced in May and awarded on a state representational basis.

* 1,100 corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship Awards announced in April.

* 4,600 college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship Awards announced in May.

Rachel is the daughter of Douglas and Joan Clarke and plans to study biological sciences at Mississippi State University.

At St. Aloysius, she is participating this weekend in her school’s upcoming play, “Beauty and the Beast” as the narrator. Rachel was also recipient of the National Scholar and Athlete Award, President’s Award for Educational Excellence and a Bronze Service Award at the school.

Kiefer is the son of Kimble and Susan Slaton and plans to study chemical engineering and French at Mississippi State University.

“It has been amazing to watch Kiefer grow and learn. We are proud him and this recognition will open a lot of doors for him making him eligible for scholarship dollars,” said Susan Slaton.

Kiefer is president of Mu Alpha Theta, a high school and college math honor society, and a member of the National Honor Society.

He is a musician, playing six different instruments, and has won numerous Mississippi Music Teachers’ Association Piano Awards.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchanprasith@vicksburgpost.com.