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HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Seventy-four students attending Howard County schools have been named semifinalists in the next round of National Merit Scholarships in 2026.
The National Merit Scholarship program recognizes academically successful high school students, with winners representing less than 1 percent of the country’s high school seniors. In the 71st annual program, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation has named more than 16,000 finalists.
More than 1.3 million students in 20,000 U.S. high schools were entered into the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 PSAT as juniors. The semifinalists were the highest-scoring students in each state and represent less than 1 percent of high school seniors. The number chosen from each state is proportional to its share of graduating seniors in the U.S.
Around 95 percent of semifinalists are expected to be named finalists, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. To be considered for finalist status, semifinalists and a high school official must complete a scholarship application with details on the academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards received. The semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn an SAT or ACT score reinforcing their qualifying PSAT score.
Scholarship winners are chosen from the approximately 15,000 finalists. There will be 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarships awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation on a state-representational basis. An estimated 150 corporations and business organizations will provide 830 corporate-sponsored scholarships to students whose parents work at sponsoring businesses or who live in the communities where offices are located. Approximately 150 colleges and universities will provide 3,600 college-sponsored awards to students attending their institutions.
In all, 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million will be awarded in 2026. Scholarship announcements will be made from April to July 2026.
The semifinalists from Howard County are:
River Hill High School:
Hammond High School:
Long Reach High School:
Wilde Lake High School:
Maryland International School in Elkridge:
Centennial High School:
Howard High School:
Mount Hebron High School:
Meade High School:
Reservoir High School:
Marriotts Ridge High School:
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