Six Dreher High School students have been named semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program, which recognizes academically talented high school seniors across the country.
Over 16,000 semifinalists will compete for 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million. The scholarships will be offered in the spring.
Dreher’s National Merit Scholarship semifinalists are: Lena Trask-Trafton, Aidan Dong, Jeremiah Trimble, Naja Weinkle, Larrabee Ellenberg and Charlotte Peavy.
“We are extremely proud of our six National Merit semifinalists. The work that Lena, Aidan, Jeremiah, Naja, Larrabee and Charlotte have done individually to attain this honor is a reflection of the parents, teachers and others who have been a part of these students' journey. All six students are deserving of this honor. We look forward to how they will progress in the National Merit process and will continue to support them. They make our Blue Devil family proud,” said Dreher High principal Joe Eberlin.
High school juniors entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
To qualify as finalists, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application which includes their academic record, evidenced participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards. They also must have an exemplary high school academic record, be endorsed by a high school official, write an essay and earn an SAT or ACT score that confirms the student’s academic performance.
About 95 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
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PHOTO: Six Dreher High School students have been named semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. Top row from left to right are: Lena Trask-Trafton, Aidan Dong and Jeremiah Trimble. Bottom row from left to right are: Naja Weinkle, Larrabee Ellenberg and Charlotte Peavy.
