Six Penn students named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

Penn High School Principal Dr. Sean Galiher announced that six Penn students have achieved the prestigious status of being named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

Stanton Barnes, David Guarraci, Calum Jessop, Hannah Kang, Stanley Liew and Proshun Nishorgo are among 16,000 Semifinalists nationally in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.

“We couldn’t be prouder of these students for being selected as National Merit Semifinalists,” Dr. Galiher said. “This prestigious achievement reflects their hard work and dedication, along with the support of the outstanding teachers they’ve had throughout their time at P-H-M schools.”  

More than 1.3 million Juniors took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October of 2023, which is the initial screening of program entrants.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.