Saint Viator High School’s National Merit semifinalists announced
Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently announced the names of more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Saint Viator High School proudly recognizes three students among the semifinalists: Owen Kelly, Henry Marshall and Aidan McLeod.
These academically talented high school seniors now have the opportunity to advance in the competition for approximately 6,870 National Merit Scholarships, valued at nearly $26 million which will be awarded next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must meet several requirements to advance to the finalist level. About 95% of the semifinalists are expected to achieve finalist status, and approximately half the finalists will be awarded a National Merit Scholarship and earn the title of Merit Scholar.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization established in 1955, operates the National Merit Scholarship Program independently of government funding. Scholarships are funded by NMSC’s own resources as well as contributions from around 280 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors who share NMSC’s commitment to honoring academic excellence and supporting the nation’s scholastic champions.
Steps in the 2025 Competition
More than 1.3 million juniors from approximately 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screening of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, consists of the highest-scoring entrants from each state. The number of semifinalists in each state is proportional to the state’s share of the national total of graduating seniors.
To advance to the finalist level, semifinalists and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application. This application includes information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.
Semifinalists must also have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed by a high school official, write an essay, and achieve SAT or ACT scores that confirm their earlier performance on the qualifying test.
From the pool of over 16,000 semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level, with notifications being sent in February. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be chosen from this group of finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, with no consideration given to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
National Merit Scholarships
In the spring of 2025, three types of National Merit Scholarships will be awarded. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, which will be distributed on a state-representational basis. Additionally, approximately 770 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships will be provided by around 130 corporations and business organizations. These awards are available to finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as being children of the sponsor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor facilities are located. Furthermore, about 150 colleges and universities are expected to offer around 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarships to Finalists who will attend the sponsoring institution.
National Merit Scholarship winners for 2025 will be announced in four nationwide news releases, starting in April and concluding in July. These recipients will join more than 382,000 distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.