Two Lake Belton High School seniors named National Merit semifinalists – KCENTV.com
BELTON, Texas — Two Lake Belton High School students have been named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing among the top academically talented high school seniors in the nation.
Seniors Dhruv Bhat and Alex Yuen are among the nearly 16,000 students nationwide to earn the recognition, a distinction achieved by less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. Both will now have the opportunity to advance in the competition for 7,500 scholarships worth nearly $30 million.
Bhat, the son of Sanjay and Nandita Bhat of Temple, is active in tennis, UIL Academics, National Honor Society, Student Council and HOSA. He called the honor a moment of pride.
“This was the first time I had a number to my name,” Bhat said. “I put the work in, but I hadn’t really had that reward yet. This was the first reward.”
Bhat also noted that his parents provided a constant source of support and encouragement.
Yuen, the son of Joyce Zhao and Josh Yuen of Belton, participates in National Honor Society, HOSA, Student Council and UIL Academics and previously played tennis. He said learning of his semifinalist honor brought him joy.
“It was a goal, but it was not the end of the world if I didn’t make it,” Yuen said. “I felt joy.”
Yuen credits his mother for helping him prepare for the SAT and said his favorite class, AP Chemistry, deepened his academic interests.
Yuen plans to study pre-medicine at the University of Texas at Austin with the goal of becoming an ophthalmologist.
Lake Belton Principal Steele Hantgin praised both students for their accomplishments.
“Dhruv and Alex are exceptional examples of the dedication, perseverance and curiosity we see in our students,” Hantgin said. “We are proud of their accomplishments and excited to see the opportunities that await them as they move forward in the National Merit competition and in life.”
More than 1,000 Texas students were named semifinalists this year.
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