The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.6 million entrants each year, and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.
Finalists
In February, some 15,000 Semifinalists are notified by mail at their home addresses that they have advanced to Finalist standing with the top scorers receiving $2,500 scholarships, corporate, or college-level awards. High school principals are notified and provided with a certificate to present to each Finalist.
Winner Selection
All winners of Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar® designees) are chosen from the Finalist group based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. A variety of information is available to NMSC selectors for evaluation: the Finalist’s academic record; information about the school’s curricula and grading system; two sets of test scores; the high school official’s written recommendation; information about the student’s activities and leadership; and the Finalist’s own essay.
This year, MLWGS has seventeen (17) National Merit Scholarship Finalists from the Class of 2026, nine from Henrico, four from Chesterfield, three from Hanover, and one from Richmond. Congratulations to our seniors:
| Ali, Asra | Richmond |
| Barnett, Abby | Henrico |
| Chen, Elijah | Henrico |
| Holmes, Lilith | Chesterfield |
| Kanach, Rowan | Hanover |
| Laraway, Alina | Henrico |
| Lin, William | Henrico |
| Lins, David | Chesterfield |
| Maurya, Yash | Henrico |
| Panchagnula, Sriram | Henrico |
| Roerink, Ethan | Hanover |
| Sarva, Samhith | Henrico |
| Schaffernoth, Sophia | Henrico |
| Teague, Helen Fielding | Chesterfield |
| Vo, Thienvan | Chesterfield |
| Wood, Mark | Hanover |
| Zhang, Daniel | Henrico |
