Semifinalist and Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program

National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist 2025

Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. 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.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 280 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.

Concordia International School is proud to recognize

Davis Mo

Annelie Chang

William Qian

as a national Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program

The principal, Laura Berntson, of Concordia International School Shanghai announced today that:

Kate Anderson

Aaron Cao

Caleb Hsu

Timothy Ly

Madelyn Tran

Sophie Yasunaga

Henry Zhao

Edward Zhang

have been named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2025 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2025 competition by taking the 2023 SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT\ NMSQT).

“Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic stress success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These 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. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”