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This report contains two studies. The first study was conducted in order to obtain a profile of Kansas students in the 1999 class of National Merit Semifinalists (NMSFs). A survey was mailed to 166 students. Data were analyzed in terms of age, gender, race, language, family characteristics, high schools attended, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, part-time work, travel experiences outside the United States, high school programs, judgments concerning their schools, college/university preferences, and career plans. Results indicate that: (1) the majority of Kansas NMSFs are males, and almost all are Caucasian Americans; (2) NMSF parents are usually stable and well educated; (3) 19 percent of the state's high schools produce all of the NMSFs; (4) NMSFs report frequent participation in extracurricular nonsport activities and some participation in extracurricular sports and community-based activities; (5) 86.3 percent of respondents have held high school leadership positions; (6) more than half hold part-time jobs during the school year; (7) about 60 percent have traveled outside of the United States; (8) 79 percent of respondents reported taking accelerated or Advanced Placement courses; (9) over 83 percent assigned their schools a grade of A or B; (10) 60 percent listed Kansas colleges and universities among the 3 institutions they would like to attend; (11) 47 percent had not made a career choice; and (12) only 19 percent listed Kansas as the state in which they would prefer to spend their careers. A follow-up study was completed to determine the colleges and universities where 1999 NMSFs planned to enroll in the fall. Information provided by school officials indicated that more than 42 percent enrolled in Kansas institutions, and a majority chose public institutions. Appendixes contain statistical data supporting the studies and a copy of the survey questionnaire. (Contains 10 references.) (EV)