According to Wake school officials, the students compete for 8,200 Merit Scholarships worth more than $35 million.

To move to the next level and become a finalist, students must have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn strong SAT scores.

The students are: Tyler A. Confrey-Maloney, Jonathan H. Edwards, Jordan A. Jones, Zachary A. Martin and Matthew S. Wiesner of Broughton High School; Laura C. Buff, Michael I. Chen, Hannah E. Darst, Pradeep B. Gopinathan, Ellis E. Gyongyos, Ian M. Harwood, Sarah N. Lineberry, Lilly Y. Liu, Alexander M. Madsen, Rachel E. Mazzara, Emily R. Myers, Rachel C. Rowe, Alexandra H. Snedeker, Bao M. Tran-Phu, Alexey A. Vasiliyev, Daniel R. Vitek, Anna S. Wormsbecher and Diana L. Xie of Enloe High School; Cody A. Hitchcock of Leesville Road High School and Scott E. Herrmann, Margaret Pennisi and Dean S. Pixton of Sanderson High School.

The National Merit Scholarship Program began in 1955.

For more information, visit www.nationalmerit.org.

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Are you tired of having to say the same thing more than once to your child? Or tired of the classic temper-tantrums?

Learn how to cope with these and other issues at a seminar "Positive Discipline: Firmness And Limit-Setting" at Project Enlightenment starting Sept. 30. Classes meet Oct. 7 and Oct. 14.

Parents will learn how to develop a firm communication style and how to follow through with choices and consequences. Each class includes lectures, discussions and reading assignments.

The classes cost $42 per person, $54 per couple.

Registration is open. For more information call 664-7781 or visit www.projectenlightenment.wcpss.net.

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Moore Square Middle School is looking for runners, walkers, teams and volunteers to participate in the 10th Anniversary Autism Ribbon Run, which is scheduled for Oct. 11 at Moore Square in downtown Raleigh.

If you would like to be involved, contact daughtreylm@nc.rr.com.

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North Hills is hosting The Midtown Hoops North Hills 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on Sept. 27. The tournament will benefit The Salvation Army's Youth Programs.

Team slots are still available. Local businesses can still sponsor them by signing up at ww.midtownraleighevents.com.

Teams can pick up their packet information at 6 a.m. that day. Games begin at 10 a.m. Identification is required to receive packet information.

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