8 Highland Park Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Eight students from Highland Park were recognized as semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, officials announced last week.

The 16,000 semifinalists are one step closer to securing one of the 6,930 National Merit Scholarship awards worth nearly $26 million. Finalists will be announced and awarded next spring.

Over 1.3 million high school juniors from 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholar Program when they took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The current selection of semifinalists represents less than one percent of high school seniors.

In Highland Park, students at Highland Park Hikigh School were recognized as National Merit Scholar Semifinalists:

HIGHLAND PARK H. S.

• Brown, Joshua T.
• Engelman, Ella R.
• Gamson, Henry J.
• Gordon, Gabrielle D.
• Levin, Eli J.
• Ornstein, Liam E.
• Rhoads, Eryn L.
• Shapiro, Harry R

To become a finalist, semifinalists and school officials must submit a detailed scholarship application that includes the student's academic record, participation in school and community events, leadership abilities, employment and any honors or awards received.

More than 15,000 students are expected to advance to the Finalist level and will be announced in February. National Merit Scholars will be selected from the group of finalists.