St. Mary’s Ryken High School proudly announced that senior Ryan Guy has been named a semifinalist in the prestigious 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. This accomplishment places Guy among an elite group of high school students recognized for their academic excellence on a national level.
“We are incredibly proud of Ryan’s achievement as a National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalist,” said St. Mary’s Ryken Principal Catherine Bowes. “This recognition is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and academic excellence. Ryan exemplifies the values of our school community, and we are excited to see all he accomplishes in the future.”
Ryan’s recognition comes after over 1.3 million juniors from approximately 21,000 U.S. high schools entered the program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). This test serves as the program’s preliminary qualifying exam and is used to narrow down the pool to those achieving the top scores in each state. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, reflects the highest-scoring entrants in their respective states. The number of semifinalists selected from each state is proportional to the state’s share of graduating seniors nationwide.
To advance from a semifinalist to a finalist, candidates must undergo a comprehensive application process. Both the student and their high school are required to submit detailed documentation that includes the semifinalist’s academic record, involvement in school and community activities, leadership roles, employment, and honors and awards received. Additionally, the student must demonstrate a consistently outstanding academic record throughout high school, secure a strong recommendation from their school, write a personal essay, and attain SAT or ACT scores that validate their earlier performance on the PSAT/NMSQT.
Ryan is now among over 16,000 semifinalists who will compete for a finalist designation in early 2025, with more than 15,000 expected to advance to this stage. These finalists will then compete for a range of scholarships awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Winners will be selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college academic environments. The program does not take gender, race, ethnic background, or religious affiliation into consideration when selecting Merit Scholar designees.
February 2025 will mark the next major milestone in the program when finalists are notified of their standing. Only those who advance to finalist status will be eligible to compete for the title of National Merit Scholar and be considered for one of the many scholarships awarded by the NMSC.
With a rigorous selection process and a notable academic record, Ryan Guy’s recognition as a National Merit semifinalist highlights not only his individual achievement but also the support and educational foundation provided by St. Mary’s Ryken. The school community, along with Ryan’s family and friends, will undoubtedly be cheering him on as he takes the next steps in this distinguished competition.
