National Merit Scholarship

American  

noun

1. one of some 7,500 college scholarships awarded annually since 1955 by the nonprofit, grant-supported National Merit Scholarship Corporation, to high school students National Merit Scholars on the basis of scholastic record, personal character, and score on a test administered nationally.

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Example Sentences

Thirty-eight students at Interlake High School, a public school in Bellevue, are National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists, making Interlake the school with the highest number of semifinalists in Washington state.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2023

The top scorers are named finalists or semifinalists, meaning they can compete for a National Merit Scholarship award.

From Washington Post • Mar. 29, 2023

Carmen Schentrup had a laser focus on her future — a straight-A student and National Merit Scholarship finalist, she planned to become a doctor who researched amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2023

Students are typically notified of their commended-student status in September so they can mark the distinction on college applications, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

From Washington Post • Dec. 29, 2022

Out of 212 seniors, between 20 and 30 are finalists for the National Merit Scholarship each year, according to principal Stephen Covert.

From Salon • May 1, 2022