National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Announced

Reece Armagost is now a part of an elite group of high scorers chosen as Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. He is now eligible to continue in the competition to compete for nearly 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. 

Over 16,000 semi finalists were announced in the 69th National Merit Scholarship Program. 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. 

“Reece is an incredible student that represents our pillar of academic excellence to the highest level,” said Loyola principal John LeBlanc. “On behalf of our Loyola family, we want to congratulate him as well as his parents, teachers, and counselors who helped prepare him for this impressive achievement.”

High school juniors entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, 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. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. 

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official 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 or ACT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level in February. 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.