WELLSBURG - A Brooke High School senior with numerous local honors to his credit can add a national title to his list of accomplishments.

The Brooke County Board of Education on Oct. 12 recognized Jeremy Virgin for being named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, an honor received by less than 1 percent of all high school seniors in the U.S.

The son of Susan and Joe Mullenbach of Wellsburg and Jerry Virgin of Wellsburg, he received the distinction after achieving one of West Virginia's top scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test taken during his junior year.

To become a finalist, a National Merit Semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, the recommendation of his or her high school principal and earn SAT scores confirming the student's earlier performance on the PSAT.

About 15,000 finalists will compete for approximately 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, next spring.

In its 55th year, the scholarship program is supported by about 500 businesses, colleges and universities.

Virgin and other National Merit Semifinalists will be honored at a reception at the home of the president of West Virginia University later this month.

While presenting a certificate of recognition to Virgin, John Lyonett, assistant superintendent of schools; and Kathy Kidder-Wilkerson, the school district's director of pupil services; related Virgin's other accomplishments, including his being named to the Principal's Honor Roll and maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.

Currently ranked first in his class, Virgin has been named to the National Honor Society, is a participant of the school's Honors Program and has been named Outstanding Biology Student, Outstanding Chemistry Student and Outstanding French Student by his teachers.

He was selected to participate in West Virginia Boys State and the National Youth Leadership Forum, the latter held in Washington; and has received the Bauch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, entitling him to a scholarship at Rochester University if he chooses.

Virgin also is a member of the school's history, math, chemistry, Interact and ski clubs and of the Future Business Leaders of America and Student Council. He is also a letterman in track.

He plans to study chemical engineering at the college level.