A shout out to Benjamin Lennon and Julian Powell, two Ballard High School students who are now semifinalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarships program.

They are two of 23 students selected from the Seattle Public Schools program to compete with 16,000 other students nationwide. There are only $8,300 scholarships to win, totaling more than $32 million, meaning that our duo Lennon and Powell will have to turn up the brainiac level to maximum.

To take it to the next level (about 90 percent of semi-finalists are expected to become finalists), the two will have to be endorsed by a high school official, write an essay, do well on the SATs, show leadership ability and, of course, have an incredible academic record. Among other things.

Shouldn't be too hard. Congrats to Lennon and Powell!