Once again, Williamson County Schools students have set a new National Merit Semifinalist record. This year, 81 students earned the prestigious designation. The previous record was 79, set in 2022.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the Semifinalists Wednesday, September 13. Of the 1.5 million students to enter the program, only around 16,000 receive this honor. In 2021, 72 WCS students were named Semifinalists. In 2020, the district had 52 Semifinalists.
“This accomplishment opens so many doors for these students,” said WCS Superintendent Jason Golden. “I want to congratulate the students and their families along with the teachers these students have had throughout their educational journey.”
High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Any Semifinalist who has been selected as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist will be notified in February. To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and their high school must submit an application including information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and any honors and awards they received.
“We are so proud of our students earning this accomplishment as it will open many doors for them,” said WCS Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools Dr. Leigh Webb. “The foundation for this type of success really starts in elementary school and builds upon itself through high school. Our students continue to achieve at exceptionally high levels.”
The Merit Scholarship winners will then be chosen from the Finalists.
Congratulations to the National Merit Semifinalists listed below:
Brentwood High
Rishika Challa
Lucas Clevenger
Amelia Croney
Garrett Crouch
Ryan Dawson
Jacob Dong
Elise Froehler
Luke Haws
Adam Jaser
Taiga Koyama
Charlotte Landman
Clara Beth Lee
Linden Martin
Katherine Mize
Arjun Nayagadurai
So Young Park
Trishita Paul
Ava Rice
Ali Sidiqyar
Brodie Spillane
Davis Veazey
Robert Walch
Grace Walter
Brooks Wheeler
Centennial High
Tyler Tapperson
Franklin High
Jason Bowles
Sylvia Brekke
Caden Bridges
Caden Campbell
Coleman Clemmons
Christopher Davis
Vasilios Ekimogloy
Jade Horne
Wesley Jordan
Abigail Kabagambe
Jackson McDonald
Hannah Whitfield
Jonathan Zink
Independence High
Andrew Chatterton
Carmen Onusaitis
Weston Ragan
Kiran Rao
Elijah Sower
Patrick Whitlow
Nolensville High
Albin Brejeon
Wilson High
Stephen Job
Annabelle Mullenix
Michael Tadrous
Meghan Wallace
Page High
Evan Ingmire
Mary Peck
Daniel Pontow
Aarnav Mrida Varanasi
Ravenwood High
Minjae Bae
John Beck
Christina Chen
John Coggin
Aarush Desai
Patrick Fiechtl
Jackson Gardzina
Grace Helou
Yuti Kale
Aayush Kumar
Margaret MacGurn
Sophie McAtee
Jack Meyer
Naman Mukerji
Sneha Mukku
Riya Nanda
Tanmay Neema
Christina Qi
Malvika Rao
Saisarath Ravilla
Madeline Schaefer
Camden Walker
Molly Walker
Sophia Wang
Ria Yesare
Summit High
Jackson Stinson
Mark Wittekind
