2022 National Merit Semifinalists Named From Washington DC

WASHINGTON, DC — Two students from public schools in the District of Columbia have been named 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, taking the first step in securing a scholarship in the competitive program.

The other students named 2022 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists attend private schools in D.C.

On Wednesday, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced approximately 16,000 semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of high school seniors in the U.S. Students were entered into the competition as juniors by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Semifinalists were the highest scoring entrants in each state, and the number chosen from each state is proportional to its share of graduating seniors in the U.S.

Here are the two public school students from D.C. who have achieved semifinalist status:

• Maxwell J. Gualtieri, Woodrow Wilson High School
• John M. Joire, Woodrow Wilson High School

The D.C. private school students are:

• Julien D. Berman, Georgetown Day School
• Pierce E. Decain, Georgetown Day School
• Guilia Balestrieri, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
• Jack Anderson, Maret School
• Riley M. Herron, Maret School
• Charles T. Knowles, Maret School
• Piper Kraske, Maret School
• David Zhan, Maret School
• Arya A. Balian, National Cathedral School
• Sydney Barta, National Cathedral School
• Anna E. Riccardi, National Cathedral School
• Hannah C. Shumsky, National Cathedral School
• Brooke T. Bao, Sidwell Friends School
• Lukas Borja, Sidwell Friends School
• Haley K. Breslin, Sidwell Friends School
• Thor W. Burkhardt, Sidwell Friends School
• Layla Dawit, Sidwell Friends School
• Neal V. Gupta, Sidwell Friends School
• Cyrus L. Horst, Sidwell Friends School
• Conrad L. Hutchins, Sidwell Friends School
• Emily K. Levy, Sidwell Friends School
• Astor Y. Lu, Sidwell Friends School
• Gemma L. Maltby, Sidwell Friends School
• Aden T. Meba Selassie, Sidwell Friends School
• Olivia G. O'Donnell, Sidwell Friends School
• Dylan G. Parikh, Sidwell Friends School
• James W. Passmore, Sidwell Friends School
• Liv Sullivan, Sidwell Friends School
• Yhuin Ong, St. Albans School
• Sampson D. Tischler, St. Anselm's Abbey School
• James M. Morrison, St. John's College High School
• Elise D. Naftulin, Washington International School
• Mia A. Sampson, Washington International School
• Jonah Simpkins, Washington International School

About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to finalist standing, and over half of the finalists will win about National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million next spring. To be considered as a finalist, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application with information about the student's academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

The semifinalist must demonstrate an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay. Scholarship winners will be chosen based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

There are three kinds of scholarships finalists will compete for, corporate-sponsored, college or university-sponsored and National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation's own $2,500 Scholarships will be awarded to 2,500 students on a state-representational basis. Around 1,000 corporate-sponsored scholarships will be provided by about 220 corporations and business organizations for students who meet their criteria.

For example, the criteria may include being children of an employee at the sponsoring business or residents of communities where the business has locations or offices. Around 180 colleges and universities are expected to fund about 4,100 awards for finalists who will attend their school.

Winners will be announced in four groups between April and July 2022.