MENDHAM, NJ — One West Morris Mendham High School student has been named a semi-finalist for the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.
The semi-finalists were announced on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and include around 16,000 high school seniors who will go on to compete for the scholarships that will be offered next spring.
In Mendham, high school student Alexander Wong is among the New Jersey students who have qualified for the next round of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation's national scholarship program.
According to a press release from the National Merit Scholarship Program, about 95 percent of semi-finalists are anticipated to become finalists. Of those finalists, approximately half will be awarded a scholarship.
Over 1.3 million juniors from approximately 21,000 high schools participated in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
The number of semifinalists from each state is proportional to that state's percentage of the national total of graduating seniors, officials said.
To advance to finalist status, a semifinalist, along with a high school official, must submit a comprehensive scholarship application.
This application includes details about the semifinalist’s academic record, involvement in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership skills, employment history, and any honors or awards received.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2025 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.