Pickerington Schools is pleased to announce that Pickerington High School North Zainab Khan has been named a Semifinalist in the 2024 National Merit®️ Scholarship Program.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) unveiled the list of over 16,000 Semifinalists selected from a nationwide pool of high school seniors. These exceptional students now have the opportunity to compete for approximately 7,140 National Merit Scholarships, collectively valued at nearly $28 million, which will be awarded next spring.

To attain Semifinalist status in the National Merit Scholarship Program, students must meet rigorous academic criteria and excel in the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). 

To become a Finalist, Zainab and a high school official will submit a comprehensive scholarship application that includes details about her academic achievements, involvement in school and community activities, leadership experience, employment history, and honors received. Additionally, she will need to demonstrate outstanding SAT® or ACT® scores, confirming her performance on the qualifying test.

The National Merit Scholarship winners for 2024 will be chosen from the Finalist group, considering their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in challenging college-level studies. Importantly, the selection process for these prestigious scholarships is entirely merit-based, with no regard for gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious affiliation.

The National Merit Scholarship Program will award three types of scholarships in spring 2024. Each Finalist will compete for one of the 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships, distributed based on state representation. About 840 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be available through approximately 160 corporations and business organizations, each with its own specific criteria. Additionally, around 160 colleges and universities are expected to sponsor some 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for attending students.

For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program, please visit www.nationalmerit.org.