Three Loyola Students Named 2023 National Merit Semifinalists

Three Loyola College Prep students are now part of an elite group of high scorers chosen as Semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Maeve Chmielewski, Cooper DeFatta, and Austen Simpson are 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 Semifinalists were announced today in the 68th 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. 

“This is an impressive achievement for Maeve, Cooper, and Austen, one that has the potential to finance what we know will be distinguished college careers,” said Loyola principal John LeBlanc. “We congratulate these three students, as well as the parents, teachers and counselors who help prepare Loyola students for success.”

High school juniors entered the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2021 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.

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