Batavia High senior named Merit Semifinalist

Peter Day, a Batavia High School senior, has been named a semifinalist in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.

On Sept. 9, National Merit Scholarship Corp. officials announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors can continue in the competition for some 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million, to be awarded next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February, they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

National Merit Scholarship Corp., a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. It underwrites scholarships with its own funds and with approximately 280 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors that share its goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.