Seventy Hawai'i high school students are among the 16,000 semifinalists for the 55th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The students are now in the running for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, that will be offered next spring. Hawai'i's semifinalists are:

Home School: Melanie Grindle, Graham Hawes, Marissa Loving.

Connections Charter School (Hilo): Kathleen Mora.

Hawaii Baptist Academy: Jasmine Kaneshiro.

'Iolani School: Asia Ayabe, Vladimir Bernstein, Kiana Block, William Chambers, Sean Cockey, Andrew Ellison, Satsu Holmes, David Jordan, Anders Lee, Haley Ling, Miranda Linsky, Christopher Liu, Calixto Lucas, Brianna Lum, Gregory Lum.

Also, Stephen MacMillan, Tasia Mamiya, Evan Masutani, Milena Naitoh, Reyn Ono, Jason Preble, Kira Swope, Tyson Tsutsumi, Taylor Van Etten and Mark Williams.

Kalaheo High School: Kate Compagnoni.

Kamehameha Schools: Amelia Harvey, Aaron Nagao.

Konawaena High School: Teagan Nakamoto.

Maui High School: Maryssa Nagata.

Mililani High School: Kristin Wilson.

Moanalua High School: Marissa Kubo.

Punahou School: Jared Char, Sean Dave, Franz Essig, Stuart Giles, Jessica Hatch, Julia Hirata, Caitlin Ito, Kaitlin Kogachi, Anne Kwok, Kathryn Lau, Eric Liaw, Jenna Louie.

Also, Kevin Moy, Kevin Mukai, Michael Nehmad, Jeffrey Nishida, Keely Sarr, Colby Sato, Nicole Sato, Kamden Segawa, Amanda Takiguchi, George Tang, David Webb, Francis White and Maya Yamane.

Roosevelt High School: Samuel Yim.

Sacred Hearts Academy: Caitlin Mori.

St. Andrew's Priory: Maya Fegan, Ayesha Hein.

Seabury Hall: Tatiana Bradley, Inanna Carter, Lauren Clark.

Waiakea High School: Nolan Kamitaki.