On September 9, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit® Scholarship Program. Three Saint Mary’s Hall (SMH) seniors are among those who have been chosen as National Merit® Semifinalists, including Rett P., Leah G., and Max H.
These three outstanding students are all-stars in the classroom and on the field. Rett came to SMH from Great Hearts Monte Vista in 2016 as a Form 8 student. He has played golf and tennis while attending Saint Mary’s Hall and is in several advanced science classes, including bioengineering. Leah came to Saint Mary’s Hall as a freshman in 2017 from St. Anthony Catholic School. She has been a member of The Shield Society, has served as a Baron Ambassador, and has played soccer while at SMH. Max enrolled as a freshman in 2017 after attending San Antonio Academy. He is part of both the varsity basketball and baseball teams, and he recently committed to play baseball next year at Williams College.
These academically talented SMH seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit® Scholarships worth more than $30 million being offered in the spring. Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition and to be considered for a Merit Scholarship award. More than 90% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit® Scholarship, earning them the title of Merit Scholar.
More than 1.5 million juniors in approximately 21,000 schools entered the 2021 National Merit® Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
Saint Mary’s Hall also is proud to announce that six seniors have been named as Commended Students in the 2021 National Merit® Scholarship Program. These talented students include Vivek B., Michelle B., Alexandra D., Charles D., Sara H., and Luke P.
Recognized throughout South Texas as an academic powerhouse, Saint Mary’s Hall offers students a rich curriculum and builds the essential knowledge and skills that prepare them for challenging, higher-level studies beyond the halls of SMH. Visit our Academics page to learn more.