Six SJA Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
St. Johnsbury Academy Seniors Marcus Burns from Lyme, NH, Jay Krause from North Haverhill, NH, Anya Moriarty from West Burke, VT, and Donley Johnson, Isaac Lenzini, and Sophia Montague from St. Johnsbury, VT, have been recognized as semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. SJA is one of only 17 of the state’s 76 high schools to have students recognized as semifinalists, and SJA’s six students represent the highest total among those schools.
St. Johnsbury Academy Headmaster Dr. Sharon Howell said, “These are six of the Academy’s most dynamic, involved, and well-rounded students, so it’s a pleasure to see them recognized for their extraordinary scholarship as well—and to have them representing the academic excellence of St. Johnsbury Academy on the national stage. I believe it’s also a tribute to our educators that we have such a large number of students achieving at this level—the most in Vermont. We are beyond proud.”
Over 1.3 million juniors participated in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). From that number, 16,000 students, approximately one percent of the total, are named as semifinalists. About 15,000 of those students are expected to advance to the finalist level. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, regardless of gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2026. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships. About 830 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 150 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria.
In addition, about 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsoring institution.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2026 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 382,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
