Senior Leila Seelhorst Named National Merit Finalist

Out of the 1.3 million students in about 21,000 high schools who started the National Merit journey, only about 15,000 students have been named Finalists. As a Finalist, Leila will be considered for the National Merit Scholarship awards to be offered this year. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

 

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2025. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 770 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 130 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 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.