FAIRMONT — Fairmont High School senior Kellen Rodriguez recently accomplished a rare achievement.

Rodriguez was just named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. He is one of only three students from Fairmont who have been named a semifinalist in the last 20 years.

National Merit semifinalists are picked based on their PSAT/SAT test scores. Of the 1.6 million high school juniors who took the test, Rodriguez placed in the top 16,000, or top 2 percent.

The National Merit Scholarship Program has been around for decades. While it is not required to take the test to get into college, many students take the optional test as it is a good scholarship opportunity. In the past, several students from Fairmont have received scholarships through the organization based on their scores. Last school year, when Rodriguez was a junior, he took the test along with 29 of his classmates.

“I know it wasn’t required but I took it in hopes of receiving a scholarship,” he said. I kind of forgot about it until I heard the news.”

Scott Geerdes, a guidance counselor at the high school, received word from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation on Wednesday and called Rodriguez into the office that day to tell him the news.

“He was pleasantly surprised when I shared the news with him,” Geerdes recalled. “When I told him he placed in the top 16,000, he quickly understood the significance of this.”

Roughly 300 seniors in Minnesota were named National Merit semifinalists. Rodriguez is the only one from the area.

“I told Kellen he truly is in elite company in terms of his test scores,” Geerdes said.

To become a finalist, a semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed application, along with an academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and honors and awards received. It won’t be announced until February who the finalists are.

Rodriguez, the son of Dr. Rufus and Lynae Rodriguez, is also on the track and cross country team at the high school, as well as a member of Knowledge Bowl team and in math league.

Rodriguez had already made a great achievement by obtaining a perfect ACT test score last school year, a rare accomplishment that less than 1 percent of test-takers make.

“Kellen’s hard work and work-ethic, combined with the academic rigor at the school really showed itself in his exam results,” Geerdes said.

Geerdes describes Rodriguez as being a quiet and reflective young man who just goes about his own business.

“Right now, I’m just looking forward to the last time for sport events and the last homecoming and then graduation,” Rodriguez said.

While Rodriguez isn’t quite sure what he’d like to pursue after graduation, he knows he wants to go to college and he looks forward to the change it will bring.