News Summary
Dozens of students from San Diego County have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, positioning them among over 16,000 nationwide. They will compete for scholarships totaling nearly $26 million to support their education. Semifinalists must submit an extensive application to qualify as finalists, showcasing their academic achievements and leadership roles. Winners will be announced in 2026, with a significant number expected to receive scholarships, highlighting the students’ academic prowess and dedication.
San Diego – Dozens of San Diego area students have been recognized as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists for 2026, as announced by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. This recognition places them among over 16,000 semifinalists across the nation, all competing for financial scholarships that support their education.
Winners of the National Merit Scholarships will receive a $2,500 award, designed to help offset the cost of their education. Approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships, totaling nearly $26 million, will be awarded in the spring of 2026. Semifinalists who wish to qualify as finalists must submit an extensive scholarship application that details their academic performance, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, part-time employment, and any honors or awards they’ve achieved.
In addition to a recommendation from a high school official, semifinalists must also demonstrate their academic prowess through qualifying SAT or ACT scores and submit an essay as part of their application. It is estimated that around 95% of semifinalists will move on to become finalists, and approximately half of those finalists are expected to receive National Merit Scholarships, thereby earning the distinction of Merit Scholar. Scholarship winners will be announced between April and July of 2026.
The announcement regarding the semifinalists occurred on September 10, 2025, and is part of the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Semifinalists represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, having qualified based on their scores from the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
San Diego County Semifinalists
Students from multiple high schools in the San Diego County area have been named semifinalists, including:
- Carlsbad High School
- Pacific Ridge School
- Sage Creek High School
- Mater Dei Catholic High School
- Olympian High School
- Coronado High School
- Valhalla High School
- San Dieguito High School Academy
- The Bishop’s School
- La Jolla Country Day School
- La Jolla High School
- El Capitan High School
- River Valley Charter School
- Pacific Coast Academy
- Poway High School
- Mountain Valley Academy
- Academy of Our Lady of Peace
- The Cambridge School
- Canyon Crest Academy
- Del Norte High School
- Patrick Henry High School
- Heritage Christian School
- Homeschool/online school
- Maranatha Christian Schools
- Mission Bay High School
- Mount Carmel High School
- Francis W. Parker School
- Point Loma High School
- Rancho Bernardo High School
- San Diego Jewish Academy
- Scripps Ranch High School
- Torrey Pines High School
- University High School
- Westview High School
- San Marcos High School
- Santana High School
- Steele Canyon High School
Poway Unified School District
In the Poway Unified School District, a total of 53 students have earned semifinalist status. The breakdown of semifinalists from this district is as follows:
- Del Norte High School: 25 students
- Mount Carmel High School: 4 students
- Poway High School: 1 student
- Rancho Bernardo High School: 6 students
- Westview High School: 17 students
Notable Semifinalists
Other notable semifinalists from the area include Brighton G. Burton from Pacific Coast Academy and Alannah Woizeschke from Maranatha Christian Schools.
As part of the upcoming award cycle, the scholarships will consist of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships, around 830 corporate-sponsored awards, and an estimated 3,600 college-sponsored awards, which will be announced in the spring of 2026.
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Additional Resources
- Patch: San Diego Area Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
- Google Search: National Merit Scholarship
- San Diego Union-Tribune: Poway Unified Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
- Wikipedia: National Merit Scholarship Program
- Fox 5 San Diego: List of Nearly 200 San Diego Area Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
- Encyclopedia Britannica: National Merit Scholarship Program
- Mercury News: California National Merit Semifinalists
- Google News: California National Merit Semifinalists
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
