Yesterday the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program released the names of its semifinalists for 2025: more than 16,000 students nationwide, including eight seniors at Charlotte Latin School. 

The semifinalists, a group smaller than one percent of high school seniors in the United States, were determined by their performance on the PSAT in 2023. Approximately 95% of them will become finalists, based on their academic record, their SAT scores, and a detailed scholarship application; the names of finalists will be announced in February 2025. Of the finalists, roughly half will earn National Merit Scholarships and the title of Merit Scholar; those scholarships will be announced in four stages between April and July 2025.

Congratulations to the members of the class of 2025 who earned semifinalist status: Claire Addison, Andrew Chen, Grace Finn, Nishanth Gaddam, Natalie Gaslin, Phillip Hullinger, HT Stinson, and Tyler Swartz.