From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 have advanced to the Finalist level, including Benjamin Logan High School senior, Isaac Napier. Isaac is the son of Daniel and Stephanie Napier of Zanesfield. Approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
To become a Finalist, Napier with the endorsement of a school counselor had to submit a detailed scholarship application, providing information about his outstanding academic record throughout high school, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Additional requirements included a written essay and earned SAT® or ACT® scores confirming his earlier performance on the qualifying test.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2023.
Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis.
About 950 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 180 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located.
In addition, about 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2023 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join nearly 368,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
