When are national merit finalists announced?

Question

for the 2009 competition they've already announced the commended scholars, and i know they announce semi-finalists in early to mid september, but when do they announce the 94% of semi-finalists who make finalist? not like the 8200 who get the actual $2500 scholarship, just the finalist level

Answer 1

They'll be announced in February.

Answer 2

I THINK they're announced late winter/early spring of 2009. I want to say sometime January, but I can't be completely sure.