Cheltenham Seniors Earn National Merit Semifinal and Commended Designations

Congratulations to National Merit Scholarship semifinalists Adora Abdul (who graduated in 2025), William Edgar, Daud Ezell, Jonas Holochwost and Ingrid Kary for being named National Merit semifinalists. National Merit Commended scholars include seniors Nicholas Abraham, Natalie Harmon-Ward, Klara Hartwell, Ethan Hromisin, Maram Kennerly, Marlowe Miller, Micah Millis and Jacob Schwartz. The group was treated to bagels and donuts this morning in the Principal’s Conference Room. 

The semifinalists are among 16,000 students in the running for some 6,930 National Merit scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. 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.

The Commended scholars fall into the top 2-3 percent of PSAT scores, which is about 34,000 students annually. Commended students receive letters of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to recognize the significant academic achievement of scoring so well on the PSAT. While Commended Students are not eligible to compete for the official National Merit Scholarship, by being recognized in this way, they often do become candidates for special merit scholarship awards offered by statewide agencies and corporate sponsors.

Congratulations, Panthers!