Four Shorecrest Seniors Recognized as National Merit Semifinalists

Shorecrest Preparatory School seniors Kate Carlan '26, Charlie Cowan '26, Hayden Hawkins '26 and Braden Stone '26 have been named 2026 National Merit Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The seniors earned their semifinalist status with their exceptional scores on the 2024 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 one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

These academically talented seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. 

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT^® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. Finalists will be notified next semester. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists.

Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.