The Sioux Falls School District is proud to announce that a group of exceptional high school seniors have been named semifinalists in this year's National Merit Scholarship Program. This prestigious recognition places them among the top academic achievers in the nation, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and academic excellence.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a highly competitive academic competition that recognizes students who excel on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Out of the 1.5 million students who take the test each year, only around 16,000 are selected as semifinalists, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors.
This achievement is a remarkable honor for our students, their families, and our entire school community. Being a semifinalist opens doors to numerous scholarship opportunities, including the chance to compete for the National Merit Scholarship, which will be awarded to around 7,500 students next spring.
This year's SFSD National Merit Semifinalists include:
Maya Sutton & Aayush Mohapatra (Jefferson High School. Left top & left bottom).
Harold Mayer & Jon (Charlie) Larsen (Washington High School. Middle top).
Kera Olson, Lily Kamnikar, Karli Heetland, Laila Sumic (Roosevelt High School. Top right).
Vanessa Ung, Andrew Dumansky, Claire Meyerink, Griffin Etrheim, Elyse Hutchinson, Jacob Pagone, Katya Surendran, Hanna Basel, El Spencer, Weston Shaw, Emma Terveen, Aleksandros Ramirez (Lincoln High School. Bottom right. Left to right).
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding students for their hard work and commitment to academic excellence. Their success exemplifies the best of what Sioux Falls School District stands for—excellence in education and a bright future for all our students.