Eight RISD seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists.
They are among 16,000 national semifinalists representing less than 1% of all seniors across the country – who are competing for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be awarded in the spring.
High school students enter the program by taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test that serves as an initial screen of about 1.5 million entrants each year. The highest possible score on the PSAT/NMSQT is 228, and in Texas a student must have a minimum score of 219 to reach the level of National Merit Semifinalist.
National Merit Finalists exhibit exceptional academic abilities, skills, and accomplishments and are highly recruited by selective colleges across the nation with some colleges and universities offering significant scholarships or even full rides based on National Merit status.
Please join us in celebrating RISD’s National Merit Semifinalists from the Class of 2025:
- Andrew Ballard, Berkner High School
- Connor Reed, Lake Highlands High School
- Connor Maul, Pearce High School
- Justin Kesler, Pearce High School
- Samuel Craig, Pearce High School with a perfect score of 228
- Saadiq Akhtar, Richardson High School
- Ada Barton, Richardson High School
- Benjamin Le, Richardson High School
In addition, 27 RISD students have been recognized as National Merit Commended students for their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The highest possible score on the PSAT/NMSQT is a 228 and to reach the level of Commended, a student would have a score between a 219 and 208. These academically talented students just missed consideration as National Merit Semifinalists.
Please join us in celebrating the 27 Commended students from the class of 2025:
Berkner High School
Bethany Thomas and Omera Wahid
Lake Highlands High School
Laurence Annable, Peyton Howell, Luke Marshall and Hudson Oglesby
Pearce High School
Sam Casey, Jacob Dorman, Evan Drazin, David Greving, Max Francis, Jacob Ittigson and Joseph Lansch
Richardson High School
Hannah Chapman, Owen Dunbar, Michael Hale, Elliette Hemingson, Adrienne Johnson, Michael Manders, Michael Mello, Samir Mukshe, Lilliana Myers, Audrey Norris, Jennifer Rayman, Claire Serold, Augustine Su and Omear Wahid
