4 Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

Jamie Lavigueur
Congratulations to SFHS students Emily B., Madelyn H., Philip L., and Connor S. who were named semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program! These academically talented seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 7,250 National Merit Scholarships offered next spring. Finalists will be announced in February. Winners will be announced in the spring through early summer of 2023.
The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants on the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state's percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
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.
Finalists will be notified in February and National Merit Scholarship winners will then be selected. 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.
Types of National Merit Scholarships
Three types of National Merit Scholarships are offered in spring 2023.
  • Every finalist competes for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships awarded on a state-representational basis.
  • About 950 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 180 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria.
  • 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2023 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join nearly 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
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.
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.

    • Four SFHS students were named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. Congratulations!

St. Francis High School

2130 W. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone (630) 668-5800
Fax (630) 668-5893