The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Wednesday its 2026 list of semifinalist high school students who will now compete for a share of about 6,930 scholarships worth almost $26 million. Winners will be announced nationally between April and July next year. This is the 71st annual competition.

High school juniors — 11th graders — entered the 2026 academic competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. More than 1.3 million juniors, in about 20,000 high schools, entered the competition by taking the qualifying test.

The highest-scoring students in each state represent the pool of semifinalists who, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, represent less than 1% of United States high school seniors.

The next step for a semifinalist to become a finalist is to complete the required application that includes their SAT or ACT scores, an essay and a letter of recommendation by a high school official.

Finalists are then chosen on the basis of academic record, their participation in community and school activities, how they have demonstrated leadership ability, employment, awards and honors received.

From the group of about 16,000 semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level.

Students will be notified in February if they are finalists. All National Merit Scholarship winners are selected from this group of finalists, and about half of those are expected to win a scholarship from three categories.

National Merit $2500 Scholarships: Every finalist competes for one of 2,500 scholarships that are awarded on a state-representational basis

Corporate-sponsored scholarships: In 2026, about 830 corporate-sponsored awards will be given out by about 150 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria (such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located)

College-sponsored scholarships: About 150 colleges and universities finance about 3,600 awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor’s institution

The National Merit Scholarship winners, chosen on the basis of accomplishments, skills and potential for college success, are selected from the February finalists group. Winners are notified, on a rolling basis, in 2026 from April to July.

The 2026 scholarship winners join the nearly 389,000 past winners who have earned the title of Merit Scholar.

Here is the list of semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program in Los Angeles County by school location and school name:

Agoura Hills

Agoura Hills HS

Hennessey, Grace

Lieblich, Garin

Mayer, Noah

Alhambra

Alhambra HS

Wu, Brendon E.

Zhang, Alvin J.

Mark Keppel HS

Chang, Keira I.

Li, Kalina S.

Arcadia

Arcadia HS

Gao, Logan

Lin, Cayden

Lo, Jake

Lu, Elly

Lu, Ruixuan

Lu, Turner

Nguyen, Minhtam

Rizzo, Jason

Wu, Kevin

Yang, Drew

Yuan, Rachel

Bellflower

St. John Bosco HS

Paredes, Gian Miguel

Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills HS

Albert, Ezra

Matcuk, Xander

Brentwood

Heritage HS

Aaron, James

Jin, Caroline

Burbank

Burbank HS

Pay, Sebastian

International School Los Angeles

Procter, Griffin

Calabasas

Viewpoint School

Abdou, Joseph S.

Kim, Allison E.

Mukherjee, Jishnu

Canyon Country

Canyon HS

Nguyen, Angelina D.

Carson

California Academy of Mathematics and Science

Lee, Yumi

Penetrante, Joel

Sun, Owen

Cerritos

Gretchen Whitney HS

Andal, Jacob T.

Binny, Vivasvat

Chung, Chloe

Fong, Katelyn

Ganapathy, Sanjay

Giron, Andrei Santino L.

Jacob, Shawn P.

Kang, William J.

Kim, Katie

Lim, Benjamin K.

Muraliraj, Olivia V.

Park, Keenan S.

Prabhu, Niharika

Tang, Benjamin Q.

Virk, Aaryan N.

Zhang, Maximo

Chatsworth

Sierra Canyon School

Gofnung, Aiden

McGowan, Nikhil

City of Industry

Workman HS

Lin, Yisong

Claremont

Claremont HS

Fong, Caleb J.

Merla, Arnav N.

Mussey, Gabrielle

Shrivastav, Aabhisaar A.

Vinall, Luke I.

Webb Schools

Lee, Alexander

Liu, Yiyang

Lu, Yihui

Ng, Tobey

Tang, Candice

Covina

Charter Oak HS

Flores, Nash P.

Culver City

Culver City HS

Frigola, Emma

Johnson, Rhys E.

Marcus, Leo R.

Ono-Lemire, Naoki

Diamond Bar

Diamond Bar HS

Chang, Shelby

Eun, Irene

Hu, Junxi

Huang, Brian

Li, Tyler

Lin, Cristina

Liu, Cynthia

Lu, Eireen

Park, Lawrence

Tien, Nathan

Wang, James

Wu, Valerie

Ye, Asia

Zhang, Rongjia

Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock HS

Simmons-Saadia, Lazare J.

El Segundo

Da Vinci Science HS

Long, Jadon T.

El Segundo HS

Antil, Aarush

Vistamar School

King, Mairin

Glendora

Glendora HS

Angeles, Maegan

Boyer, Tessa

Deshmukh, Ariya

Lin, Emily

Patel, Yash

Granada Hills

Granada Hills Charter HS

Akopian, Sarkis

Bowden, Jason

Kim, William

Hacienda Heights

Glen A. Wilson HS

Guo, George

La Cañada Flintridge

Flintridge Preparatory School

Bae, Alexander

Cooper, Samuel

Khoury, Bahia

Sanok, Nathan

La Cañada HS

Baha, Adam

Chen, Nathaniel

Chen, Victoria

Hwang, Min

Kakuk, David

Krider, Jonathan

Lee, Madison

Luk, Thalia S.

Maimone, Selena

Mercer, Lila

Penanen, Tanmay

Simonian, Jessica

St. Francis HS

Toche, James J.

La Crescenta

Crescenta Valley HS

Buda, Sophia

Carrillo, Sonia

Kahdian, Daniel

Kim, Bailee

Ludes, Madoka

Oh, Andrew

Vesselinov, Angelina

Yang, Joshua Jun-Hua

La Puente

Bishop Amat Memorial HS

Guzman, Jerren V.

Magaling, Jaedon A.

Los Angeles

The Archer School for Girls

Wang, Melinda

Brentwood School

Albert, Ruby

Cohen, Jacqueline

Gu, Eric

Kim, Lucas

Moon, Ethan

Benjamin Franklin HS

Seiler, Ivan V.

Geffen Academy at UCLA

Brennan, Victoria

Essner, Everson

Sanghai, Pranay

Le Lycee Francais

Duhaut-Bedos, Solal

Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies

Piri, Ibrahim

Shwartz, Micah Z.

Los Angeles County High School for the Arts

Sie, Bernard

Loyola HS

Friedman, Jacob P.

Kim, Aaron

Musitano, Jack A.

Nakatsu, Joseph

Pa Ortiz, Diego A.

Vaghaiwalla, Rishad

Yuan, Muge

Marlborough School

Bae, Mia

Chen, Rachel

Fischer, Leah

Hsieh Schumacher, Sonia

Maehara, Alicia

Merges, Abigail

Siegel, Sarah

John Marshall HS

Waggoner, Raphael I.

Marymount HS

Chang, Melaina E.

Cohen, Marlena E.

Mesivta Birkas Yitzchok

Krich, Hillel

Notre Dame Academy

Nishimuro, Jessica

Shalhevet HS

Katzin, Sonya

Windward School

Cohn, Charlie

Linton, Leila J.

Oh, Madeline H.

Rutman, Aidan M.

Manhattan Beach

Mira Costa HS

Campbell, Miles

Henry, Audrey

Jackson, Catherine

Malis, Emilia

Murphy, Lachlan

Rothermel, Mary

Sulaiman, Brianna

Tarnay, Collin

North Hollywood

North Hollywood HS

Chang, Connor H.

Felts, Henry C.

French, Daniel C.

Hwang, Katie M.

Jaspan, Marlowe E.

Kim, Danny

Lim, Vincent H.

Mishra, Shashwat

Newhall, Lev S.

Ohshima, Suzuko D.

Olinger, Natalie N.

Putnam, Jack C.

Yang, Jerry A.

Zhao, Connor Z.

Oakwood School

Walpert, Noah

Science Academy STEM Magnet

Ernst, Frederick I.

Kunnath, Pranav P.

Lee, John D.

Lee, Ryan M.

Rowe, Xavier M.

Pacific Palisades

Palisades Charter HS

Kim, Caleb

Smith, Audrey

Palos Verdes Estates

Palos Verdes HS

Kim, Logan J.

Wang, Wesley K.

Yim, Charles T.

Palos Verdes Peninsula

Chadwick School

Liu, Moshi

Maas, Cadence

Rosenbaum, Matthew

Ross, Alistair

Somers, Derek

Zeng, Spencer

Home school/Online School

Oh, Joshua

Pasadena

Blair HS

Griffin, Joel

La Salle HS

Lai, Cory

Maranatha HS

Lee, Griffin

Pasadena HS

Karapetyan, Maria

Monson, Jacob

Nash, Zachary

Nunes, Zalea

Sinclair, Megan

Polytechnic School

Benitez, Joseph

Burt, Clive

Chen, Evan

Cheung, Ginny

Cho, August

Chui, Alexander

Delbridge, Madeleine

Engstrom, Ellery

Fish, Filiz

Ismagilov, Daniel

Shin, Brandon

Venuturupalli, Akhil

Zhang, Allison

Zhang, Michael

Westridge School

Chen, Zihan

Liu, Meicen

Tan, Olivia

Redondo Beach

Redondo Union HS

Buttari, Giulio

Choi, Lorelei

DiLallo, Zander

Kang, Katelyn S.

Lerch, Felix

Swift, Sheamus

Thomson, Mackenzie

Yook, Jonathan

Reseda

Reseda HS

Gupta, Siona

Rolling Hills Estates

Palos Verdes Peninsula HS

Anand, Anish A.

Chiou, Ryan C.

Cho, Inu J.

Choi, Nathan H.

Chu, Audrey M.

Kang, Yejun

Kim, Isaac H.

Kwon, Aiden J.

Lee, Luke

Li, Aaron

Ramanuja, Nikhil

Tseng, Kaili Y.

Tu, Micah K.

Wong, Nathaniel L.

Wu, Katie E.

Rosemead

Rosemead HS

Chen, Jasmine G.

Rowland Heights

John A. Rowland HS

Chu, Avery L.

Tan, Jeremy

Tao, Elaine

Zhou, Jesse

San Gabriel

Gabrielino HS

Mak, Carter L.

Shao, Tianyu

Tang, Ethan A.

San Marino

San Marino HS

Chan, Brandon C.

Chou, Winston L.

Chuang, Brandon N.

Hsu, Olivia

Huang, Kay N.

Lee, Ryan H.

Phan, Kiefer L.

Song, Xiangjie N.

Tran, Sarah M.

Wu, Benjamin S.

Wu, Eason M.

Yang, Adelynne E.

Santa Clarita

Academy of the Canyons

Chung, Aiden

Santa Monica

Cossroads School

Rao, Sissi A.

New Roads School

Farrell-Katseanes, Hayden

Rose, Milo

Santa Monica HS

Bendersky Boreth, Eli

Choe, Camille

Glasser, Sabrina

Knauf, Carly L.

Naini, Kaveh

Sherman Oaks

Notre Dame HS

Braithwaite, Alexander

Cruz, Benedict Henry

Le, Ethan

Mcauliffe, Katherine

South Pasadena

South Pasadena HS

Asakura, Mason

Chang, Alexa

Chung, Elizabeth

Kano, Sarah

Kowal, Anna

Singer, Solana

Van Kerkhove, Gihan

Vandevelde, Rose

Studio City

Campbell Hall

Reyblat, Eli

Harvard-Westlake School

Abrahamson, Zachary R.

Aguilar, Miles S.

Assil, Sydney D.

Bakaya, Vikrant

Benardo, Samuel L.

Bowse, Brando K.

Chen, Ethan Z.

Dai, Markenever

Dai, Mikenever

Daub, Lauren

Drouin, Adrian

Ferrie, Jessica

Glass, Calder J.

Graczyk, James E.

Graff, Kayla A.

Higashi, Anju

Jeon, Ella M.

Jo, Andrew H.

Lee, Seoyoon

Liftin-Harris, Silas M.

Louie, Robinson J.

Majumdar, Lyra

Mayer, Chase

Meyer, Max S.

Park, Audrey E.

Ramberg, Sally M.

Rosen, William L.

Ryu, Erin Y.

Sarvaiya, Nikhil

Schlessinger, Shimon

Schwartz, Levi R.

Scoville, Cordelia T.

Tran-Lee, Emma

Yam, Melanie H.

Yilmaz, Darren R.

Yuan, Chen

Zahiri, Cyrus C.

Zhang, Ka Yan

Sun Valley

Francis Polytechnic HS

Barraza Saucedo, Eduardo

Tarzana

Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies

Kovalev-Sheinberg, Sarah M.

Wachs, Sylvia M.

Temple City

Temple City HS

Hu, Neil

Liao, Eric

Prasad, Manu

Sabol, Hakan

Trieu, Logan

Torrance

South HS

Han, Andrew

Jang, Junue

West HS

Lee, Augustine

Moon, Katherine

Que, Kaden

Sayano, James

Shao, Warren

Wong, Benjamin

Valencia

Valencia HS

Kim, Andrew

Kozakis, Devin

West Ranch HS

Arangil, Rohit

Avalos Lujan, Florencia

Chang, Brandon W.

Van Nuys

Van Nuys HS

Lee, Ian

Venice

Venice HS

Gibson, Rickia R.

Walnut

Walnut HS

Chen, Elise C.

Chen, Xinyue

West Hills

Chaminade College Preparatory

Kogan, Marc

Westlake Village

Oaks Christian School

Mitterberger, Carolin

Pak, Emma

Westlake HS

Basamakov, Alexander

Gowda, Khushi

Kwon, Chenya

Liu, Angela

Wang, Chloe

Wu, Krystal

Xie, Benjamin

Winnetka

A.G.B.U. Manoogian-Demirdjian School

Gharibian, Andrew

Markarian, Sevag

Vakian, Sevag

Woodland Hills

William Howard Taft HS

Marletti, Jakob D.

Nabat, Seth J.

Simpson, Jack A.

High school students interested in applying in future years need to talk to their school counselor to make arrangements to take the PSAT/NMSQT test. Registration is through the high school and not by the students.

For information on the competition, tinyurl.com/mrx4t933

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation was established in 1955 and is an independent, not-for-profit group that does not operate with government assistance.

The goals of the organization are to reward academically-dedicated students, encourage academic excellence at all levels of education, promote a deeper respect for learning in general and to encourage individuals and organizations to sponsor scholarships.

The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who demonstrate “exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.” www.nationalmerit.org