2025 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists announced

Students from five high schools in East Cobb are among the more than 16,000 semifinalists for the 2025 National Merit Scholarships.

It’s the first phase of a multi-step process to award college scholarships to 6,870 high school seniors totalling more than $26 million.

According to a release, “semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

“To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

“A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.”