East Central HS Students Among National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

A total of 11 students from the tri-state area were named semifinalists.

Lillian Crouse and Paige Lyness have been named 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Photo via @EastCentralHS.

(Evanston, Ill.) – Eleven high school students from the tri-state area have been named 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

The 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program will award approximately 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million next spring.

Nearly 16,000 students nationwide have been selected as semifinalists for the $2,500 scholarships.

High school juniors entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Area semifinalists include:

  • Lillian Crouse, Paige Lyness - East Central High School
  • Zackery Banish – Cooper High School
  • Maxwell Arsenault, Angelina Harris, Renae Kopser, Jack Tagher -Ryle High School
  • Peter Constant – St. Henry High School
  • Lee Garber-Ford, Anthony Martini – Taylor High School
  • Adam Evanson – Harrison High School

To become a finalist, the semifinalists and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, providing the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards.

Of the 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level.

Finalists will be named in February with the scholarship recipients being announced in the spring.

More from Local News

Events

Jac-Cen-Del School Board Ratifies New Two-Year Teacher Contract

The new contract will take effect immediately.

Heart Health Group Receives DCF Proactive Grant

The grant is part of the Foundation’s annual program.

OHSAA Member Schools Pass NIL Referendum Proposal

Schools vote in favor of emergency referendum; Ohio becomes 45th state to allow NIL at the high school level.

Local Sports Report - November 21-22, 2025

Report missing stats and scores to news@eaglecountryonline.com

On Air

kelsey Hart Fireworks 3:09
Pam Tillis Maybe It Was Memphis 3:05
Drew Baldridge Tough People 3:01
Fox News Fox News National Newscast 3:00