Two Germantown High School seniors, Eden Jones and Daniel Xu, have been named Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among 16,000 high school seniors nationwide recognized for their exceptional academic promise and performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). This honor places them in the top one percent of high school seniors across the country.
Their recognition also continues a proud tradition at Germantown High School. Since 1977, Eden and Daniel join 67 other Germantown students who have earned the distinction of being named National Merit Semifinalists.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is one of the most prestigious academic competitions in the United States. Each year, approximately 1.3 million juniors in more than 21,000 high schools enter the program. Of those, the highest-scoring students in each state are named Semifinalists and advance in the competition for nearly 7,000 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must meet several requirements to advance to the Finalist level. This includes submitting a detailed scholarship application that highlights their academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership, employment, honors, and awards. Students must also earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm their earlier performance, write an essay and receive an endorsement from a high school official. About 95 percent of Semifinalists are expected to advance to Finalist standing, with roughly half earning a scholarship and the title of National Merit Scholar®.
Earning recognition as a Semifinalist highlights not only academic achievement, it also reflects the perseverance and intellectual drive these students bring to their studies every day. Advancing to this stage of the competition is a significant milestone that opens the door to potential scholarships and national recognition.
Winners of the 2026 National Merit Scholarships will be announced beginning in April and continuing through July. Germantown High School looks forward to celebrating the continued success of its Semifinalists as they advance through this rigorous process.