Eight Linn-Mar High School Students Named National Merit Scholarship Recipients
The Linn-Mar Community School District is proud to announce that eight seniors have been named recipients in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. This prestigious recognition highlights their exceptional academic performance and places them among the top students nationwide.
The Semifinalists from Linn-Mar High School are (pictured above from left to right):
- Adam Kmetz
- Varun Pradeep
- Dwight Kueper
- Aditya Suri
- Henry Granger
The Commended Students from Linn-Mar High School are (pictured above from left to right):
- Lizzy Dreyer
- Mariam Kiani
- Charlotte Masters
The National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists
The National Merit Scholarship Program has identified over 16,000 high school seniors across the United States as Semifinalists. These students represent less than 1% of all U.S. high school seniors, underscoring their academic excellence and potential.
As Semifinalists, Granger, Kmetz, Kueper, Pradeep, and Suri will have the opportunity to compete for approximately 6,870 National Merit Scholarships, valued at nearly $26 million. These scholarships are designed to recognize and support academically talented students.
To advance from Semifinalist to Finalist status, students must submit a detailed application, which includes their academic records, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and awards. They must also maintain an outstanding academic record, obtain a recommendation from a high school official, write an essay, and confirm their PSAT/NMSQT performance with SAT or ACT scores. It is anticipated that about 95% of Semifinalists will progress to Finalist status, with approximately half of these finalists receiving National Merit Scholarships.
Finalists will be notified in February 2025, with National Merit Scholarship winners announced in a series of nationwide news releases from April to July 2025.
The National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students
This distinction is awarded to 34,000 students from over 1.6 million who participated in the PSAT last October, recognizing those who placed among the top 50,000, or the top 5%, of all participants.
These exceptional students have consistently demonstrated academic excellence both in the classroom and within the National Merit Scholarship Competition.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) administers the program, which is funded through its own resources and contributions from business organizations and educational institutions. The program continues to celebrate exceptional academic talent and provides significant financial support to help students achieve their educational aspirations.
Congratulations to Lizzy Dreyer, Henry Granger, Mariam Kiani, Adam Kmetz, Dwight Kueper, Charlotte Masters, Varun Pradeep, and Aditya Suri for this outstanding achievement. The Linn-Mar CSD community is thrilled to support and celebrate their remarkable success.