Edwardsville High School Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

EDWARDSVILLE – Three Edwardsville High School seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among a select group of academically talented students from across the country.

Alan Chen, Jude Luesse, and David Maloney were named National Merit Semifinalists as part of the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

More than 16,000 students nationwide were named Semifinalists in this year’s program, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. The students were selected based on their performance on the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as the initial screening test for the program.

Semifinalists will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships, worth approximately $24 million, that will be awarded in spring 2027.

To advance to Finalist standing, Semifinalists must complete a detailed scholarship application that includes information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards. Students must also meet additional academic and testing requirements.

Approximately 95 percent of Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level. Scholarship recipients will be announced beginning in April 2027.

The National Merit Scholarship Program began in 1955 and recognizes academically talented students based on their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.