Seniors Smit Babariya, Noah Galloway and Lars Youngstrom were announced as National Merit Finalists on Feb. 2. They qualified after taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test during their junior year. The trio were announced as three of 16,000 semifinalists in the nation in September 2025. Semifinalists must complete an essay and get a recommendation from a teacher. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, students must also get a SAT or ACT score that is consistent with their PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Around 94% of semifinalists become finalists. 

“It felt really nice (to become a finalist) because it kinda puts credit to all the work I’ve put in throughout high school,” Babariya said. 

Babariya, Galloway and Youngstrom are also candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, which recognizes and honors outstanding high school seniors. Students must be invited to apply. Up to 161 out of approximately 4,000 candidates will be chosen as Presidential Scholars and receive a medallion in Washington, D.C.

“It’s pretty good (to be a candidate),” said Youngstrom, who is a NJROTC Admin Officer. “I like the country a lot. I am pretty patriotic, so, it’s nice to be acknowledged by the government like that.” 

Both achievements open up possible scholarship opportunities and boost college applications.

“I hope that I can maybe get something out of it,” Galloway said. “I can help my parents pay for my college.”

National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced April 22 to July 13. U.S. Presidential Scholars semifinalists will be revealed in the spring.