Area semifinalists named by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

The semifinalists for the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) Program were announced recently, and many Montgomery County students were among them. NMSC said that more than 16,000 semifinalists have been named for this, the 70^th annual NMSC year of the program.

“These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring,” said Eileen Artemakis and Matthew Budreau, of the NMSC, in a press release.

To be considered, senior students will have to fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of these semifinalists are likely to attain finalist standing, with around half of the finalists winning a National Merit Scholarship, earning a Merit Scholar title.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that “operates without government assistance” has been in operation since 1955. Its main purpose is to hold this annual competition for scholarship dollars.

“Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 280 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors that share NMSC’s goal of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence,” said the organization’s duo.

Four nationwide news releases are expected to be announced between April and July of 2025 to name the year’s Merit Scholar winners.

From the Wissahickon Now reading areas, were the following students, named as semifinalists:

 Ambler: Wissahickon High School

Jackson Angell

Katherine Chen

Kevin Gao

Connor Ginnane

Vivian Han

Katherine Hussa

Chloe Michaels

Rachel Park

Parth Patel

Shaurya Sinha

Jake Tan

Lauren Tung

Fort Washington: Germantown Academy

Yash Kandanuru

Jianna Kim

Helen Liang

Umang Mittal

Ishaan Paladugu

Lawrence Zhan

Roy Zhao

Lower Gwynedd: Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School

Lauren Ryan

Plymouth Meeting: Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School

Myles B. Kaye

Ronald L. Keene

Dhruv K. Patel

Akhil K. Roy

Noah E. Smith

Andrew T. Szperka

Koseli Thakali

Upper Dublin: Upper Dublin High School

Hannah Adams

Matthew Gregg

Selena Liang

Isabella Xie

Lance Yang