Sept. 13, 2023

Nine named National Merit Semifinalists

Nine Upper St. Clair High School seniors were recently named Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Competition. The following students scored in the top one percent of all juniors completing the PSAT in October 2022: Lucas S. Bishop, Leona Chen, Hunter F. Maher, Caroline E. Murphy, Mahir N. Parmar, Alex H. Sun, Arjun A. Suresh, Lauren M. Tenney and Isabella Zhang.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their remarkable achievements,” Dr. Timothy Wagner, Upper St. Clair High School principal, said. “In addition to being named National Semifinalists, these nine students excel in our music program, lead student clubs and actively volunteer throughout our greater community.”

Founded in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT – the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test – during the fall of their junior year. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, more than 16,000 students, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

According to the program’s website, “The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.”

The Upper St. Clair Semifinalists have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application that highlights academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the Semifinalists on Sept. 13, 2023. National Merit Finalists will be named in February 2024, followed by the National Merit Scholars in the spring and summer. The program awards three types of National Merit Scholarships - 2,500 National Merit Scholarships of $2,500; approximately 840 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships; and 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarships.

For more information regarding the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit: www.nationalmerit.org.