SJA Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
St. Johnsbury Academy seniors Hannah Keith of Kirby, VT, and Theodora Montague and Nathan Lenzini of St. Johnsbury, have been recognized as semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. SJA is one of only 15 high schools in the state to have students recognized as semifinalists and finished in a tie for second overall with CVU with three semifinalists. MMU finished with four.
St. Johnsbury Academy Headmaster Dr. Sharon Howell said, “These students should be so proud to be identified as extraordinary scholars. Their achievement academically is especially gratifying to us, given that each of them is also a leader here at the Academy in and out of the classroom, and all three have not only participated but also distinguished themselves in activities in every realm of school life. It’s wonderful to see them being recognized nationally for their academic excellence.”
Approximately 1.5 million juniors participated in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2021 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 2023. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships. About 950 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 180 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 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 more than 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
