Congrats to our National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and Commended Student!

Congratulations to Sage Ridge Seniors and National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Clark Peng and Chris Zhao! The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual scholarship competition that honors “the nation’s scholastic champions” and “encourages the pursuit of academic excellence.” Semifinalists are academically talented high school seniors that have an “opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.” Semifinalists in the 2024 competition represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. To become a Finalist, Peng and Zhao must complete a detailed scholarship application that includes academics, leadership, and community service. Best of luck to Peng and Zhao in the next stage of the National Merit Scholarship competition! 

Senior Ben Browder is a 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Student, an honor that recognizes Ben’s “exceptional academic promise.” Commended Students entered the 2024 competition “by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.” A National Merit Scholarship Corporation representative said that Commended Students represent “a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation.” Congratulations, Ben!