Three Midway High School students named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists – KCENTV.com
WACO, Texas — Three Midway ISD students are in the running for a prestigious recognition and scholarship.
The district has announced that Midway High School seniors Zoe Betancis, Lily Lu and Kennedy Williams have been named as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists for 2025.
Midway ISD said the recognition places the three among the “top students nationwide for their academic excellence, leadership and dedication to their school and community.”
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition where high school students can earn recognition and scholarships for college, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
The corporation said applicants who take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, as well as meeting other requirements, enter into the National Merit Scholarship Program competition. 50,000 high-scoring applicants are then chosen to move on in the competition.
Out of the 1.3 million entrants into the competition, Betancis, Lu and Williams are among only 16,000 to qualify as semifinalists, being among the highest-scoring entrants in the state. Midway ISD said less than one percent of high school seniors are selected as semifinalists.
Next, semifinalists who meet the requirements to advance will move on as finalists, before winners are selected for the various types of scholarships awarded through the competition.
According to Midway ISD, Williams is a member of the National Honor Society, has earned AP Scholar with Distinction and the National School Recognition Award for outstanding academic achievement. She is also reportedly active in track and field and the Student Council and volunteers in community events and her church. She also serves as a tutor with Kumon.
After graduation, Williams intends to study engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
Lu has also earned recognition as an AP Scholar with honor, according to the district, and has served as the National Center for Women & Information Technology Aspirations in Computing regional affiliate for two years. Lu participates in the Recycling Club and is on the science, math and number sense UIL academic teams.
Outside of school, Midway ISD said Lu is also a pre-professional competition dancer and mentors young students as an assistant dance teacher. She reportedly plans to study physics at Baylor University and possibly attend the CLI Conservatory to pursue pre-professional dance training.
Betancis has been recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction, earned the National School Recognition Award for outstanding academic achievement her senior year and was honored with the Spirit of Midway Award all four years of high school, Midway ISD said.
Betancis has been an officer on Student Council, and has been active in National Honor Society, HOSA, Best Buddies, PALs and multiple UIL academic teams. The district said she is also an “avid volunteer” with Waco Challenger Little League and serves through various organizations and her church.
Betancis reportedly plans to study chemistry on a pre-medical track at either Rice University or the University of Texas at Austin.
“Zoe, Lily and Kennedy are outstanding representatives of Midway High School,” said Midway High School Principal Alison Smith. “Their accomplishments inspire their peers and show what is possible with hard work, passion and perseverance.”
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