10 Lexington One seniors named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

Ten Lexington One seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program. The students are among more than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide. Semifinalists represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors.

Lexington High School: Michael Harmon

River Bluff High School: Alan Amalorpavanathan, Braelyn M. Davis, Alena J. Goveas, Ella K. Gregory, Addy E. Leonardi, Rushaan T. Sotimagar, Nishita P. Upasani, Maelle K. Wong and Yunha Yim

More than 1.2 million juniors from about 20,000 high schools entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, or PSAT/NMSQT. The test served as the initial screening for the program.

Semifinalists now have the opportunity to advance to the finalist level and compete for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million.

To become a finalist, each student and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application. The application includes information about the student’s academic record, school and community involvement, leadership, employment, honors and awards. Students must also meet additional academic and testing requirements.

More than 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level. Finalists will be notified in February 2027, with National Merit Scholarship winners announced beginning in the spring.

“Congratulations to these Lexington One students on this outstanding academic achievement,” the school district said in a news release.