SEI, NKY Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

More than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide will compete for around 7,140 awards worth nearly $28 million.

Adalyn McDonald with ECHS principal Tom Black. Photo by East Central High School.

(Evanston, Ill.) - Today, officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Locally, the following students are among the semifinalists nationwide:

Indiana

• Megan Batta, Batesville High School
• Adalyn McDonald, East Central High School

Congratulations to EC's own Adalyn McDonald on being named a National Merit Semi Finalist! We are... pic.twitter.com/wZasYOTc9L

— EC_connect (@tblacksunmande1) September 13, 2023

Kentucky 

• Owen Linstruth, Dixie Heights High School
• Samuel Wilson, Dixie Heights High School
• Emma Linkugel, St. Henry High School
• Eli Scroggie, Cooper High School
• Raymond Brandeberry, Cooper High School
• Ariel Fader, Ryle High School
• Alexander Harper, Ryle High School
• Parker Wyatt, Ryle High School

Ohio

• None in the Eagle Country listening area

The academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

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

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application consisting of the scholar’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received.

The competitive grant program helps strengthen communities’ efforts to support the learning and development of infants and toddlers.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring. Finalists will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships. About 840 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided and 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance around 3,800 awards.

Winners are expected to be announced starting in April and concluding in July.