Five Sage Ridge Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

Sage Ridge is thrilled to congratulate the following seniors who have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in the 2026 competition: Sam Browder, Aiden Charles, Saatvik Gaur, Emma Sapp, and Andrew Zhang.

This distinction underscores the strength of Sage Ridge’s academic program, with five of our seniors achieving a recognition that only 17 students across the entire Washoe County School District earned last year. To have five students from a single school honored in one year is an extraordinary accomplishment and a testament to the dedication of our students and faculty.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is one of the most respected academic competitions in the United States. More than 1.3 million juniors from 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT® in October 2024, with fewer than 1% of U.S. high school seniors named Semifinalists. These academically talented students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, which will be awarded next spring.

To advance to Finalist standing, Semifinalists must submit a detailed application highlighting their academic record, leadership, community service, and accomplishments. About 95% of Semifinalists become Finalists, and roughly half of those earn the title of Merit Scholar®.

Founded in 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation is an independent nonprofit that conducts the program without government funding, supported instead by colleges, businesses, and foundations that share its mission of honoring scholastic achievement and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

We are so proud of our Scorpions and wish them the best of luck as they continue in this prestigious competition!