North High School's Geringer named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

Out of over 1.3 million students nationwide who took the PSAT in October 2023, Geringeris among 16,000 students recognized as semifinalists. A nationwide pool of semifinalists—representing less than one percent of high school seniors in the United States—includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. 

The National Merit Scholarship Program, which has been recognizing high-achieving students for 70 years, offers nearly $26 million in scholarships each spring. To advance in the scholarship competition, Max must complete a rigorous application process that includes submitting an essay, demonstrating a strong academic record, and showcasing leadership and service within the community.

The nonprofit said about 95% are expected to advance to being finalists for the 6,870 scholarships that will be awarded in the spring. To become a finalist and move forward in the scholarship competition, semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application with information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Each semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. Based upon these submissions, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will choose approximately 15,000 finalists who will be notified of their selection in February 2025. These finalists will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarships ($2,500), about 770 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships, and some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarships for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution. 

Max's achievement highlights the dedication to the academics present within DCSD. As the school year unfolds, the district looks forward to supporting Max and celebrating further successes in the future.

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