One student, Nicholas Stout, was named as a National Merit semifinalist, bringing him one step closer to consideration for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Additionally, Maya Bhaskar received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship program.
Of the 50,000 high scorers determined, 16,000 will become Semifinalists, which means they scored in the top 1% of PSAT Scorers, and the remaining 34,000 will be recognized as Commended Students, which means they scored in the top 2%-3% of PSAT Scorers.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95% of the semifinalists were expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 340 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
