The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognizes high-achieving high school students across the country through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Students qualify for consideration through their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Of the approximately 1.3 million students who entered the 2027 competition, about 50,000 earned scores high enough to qualify for National Merit recognition. About 16,000 of those students were named Semifinalists.

These students now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships. To advance to Finalist standing, Semifinalists must complete a detailed scholarship application, maintain a strong academic record, submit an essay and information about their activities and accomplishments, receive a recommendation from a school official, and take the SAT or ACT to confirm their earlier performance.

Approximately 95% of Semifinalists are expected to advance to Finalist standing. From the Finalist group, approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships will be awarded in 2027.

Congratulations to Our Semifinalists

We are proud to recognize the following students from Catholic schools across the Diocese of Saint Petersburg:

• Hadley Angle – Academy of the Holy Names
• Cristina Contreras – Academy of the Holy Names
• Katelyn Hoar – Academy of the Holy Names
• Margarita Valdez Puente – Academy of the Holy Names
• Cayden Altman – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Addison Hamilton – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Joseph Acosta – Jesuit High School
• Juan Amador – Jesuit High School
• Austin Boyle – Jesuit High School
• Tyler Frank – Jesuit High School
• Rafael Ludovice – Jesuit High School
• Rhys Marriott – Jesuit High School
• Ethan Smith – Jesuit High School
• Will Tuomy – Jesuit High School
• Evan Voor – Jesuit High School
• Will Weaver – Jesuit High School
• Bryce Doyle – Tampa Catholic High School

Recognizing Our Commended Students

The Diocese would also like to extend congratulations to the Catholic school students who have been named National Merit Commended Students.

Commended Students are among the approximately 34,000 students nationwide who performed exceptionally well on the PSAT/NMSQT but were not selected as Semifinalists. They are recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their outstanding academic performance and potential for success in challenging college studies.

Congratulations to the following students who have been named National Merit Commended Students:

• Sofia Do Espirito Santo – Tampa Catholic High School
• Antonio Glaysher Lupianez – St. Petersburg Catholic High School
• Roman Coriale – St. Petersburg Catholic High School
• Olivia Keller – St. Petersburg Catholic High School
• Brooke Daily – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Aidan Harvey – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Nikolas Klein – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Maeve Lynch – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Michael Maddox – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Julia Neal – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Javier Quintana – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Jovan Tran – Clearwater Central Catholic High School
• Ben Beavers – Jesuit High School
• Jack Bedell – Jesuit High School
• A.J. Brazel – Jesuit High School
• Emmanuel Chiaku – Jesuit High School
• Joseph Cusimano – Jesuit High School
• Max Fechtel – Jesuit High School
• Jaime Flores-Sanchez – Jesuit High School
• Oliver Fogarty – Jesuit High School
• Vincent Garcia – Jesuit High School
• Will Guarnieri – Jesuit High School
• Evan Himes – Jesuit High School
• Bryce Holeman – Jesuit High School
• Gavin Kuo – Jesuit High School
• Wilson Marcum – Jesuit High School
• Bobby Miller – Jesuit High School
• Ramil Muraharisetti – Jesuit High School
• Kolt Ohlson – Jesuit High School
• Teddy Reace – Jesuit High School
• Fisher Sadlowski – Jesuit High School
• Mark Schifeling – Jesuit High School
• Justin Slack – Jesuit High School
• Declan Slattery – Jesuit High School
• Jake Stroz – Jesuit High School
• Brais Tobio – Jesuit High School 

We congratulate all of our National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students on this well-deserved recognition. Their achievements are a reflection of their hard work, dedication and commitment to learning, and we are proud to celebrate them as members of our Catholic school community.