By Juanita I.C. Traughber, Director of Marketing & Communications
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the names of semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program, among them eight University School of Nashville students. USN proudly recognizes Lexa Drewry '27, Lucia Gellert, '27, Lily Margalit '27, Karsen Puzniak '27, Ruchika Ramachandran '27, Harry Stahl '27, AJ Truss '27, and Julia Young '27 for their 2026 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores. They represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and are among the highest-scoring PSAT entrants in Tennessee.
These students have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,700 National Merit Scholarships, which will be awarded in spring 2027. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application and essay, in which they provide information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record.
NMSC is a nonprofit organization established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC and by approximately 260 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
The scholarship program has yet to announce commended students.