News & Events

Congratulations to Norfolk Academy seniors Leo Tang and Ray Wang, who have been recognized as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program! 

Less than 1% of high school seniors from across the country earn this honor. Students gained consideration through their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

In addition to their academic successes, both NA seniors perform in a variety of extracurricular activities.

Leo is a Global Health Fellow in the Batten Leadership Program and participates in Upper School Chorus and Orchestra. He also runs cross country in the fall and plays tennis in the spring. 

Ray is an Engineering, Design, and Innovation Fellow in the Batten Leadership Program. He also runs cross country in the fall and rows in the spring. 

Just 16,000 students from around the country earned this merit honor. More than 1.3 million students entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Finalists will be announced in a few months. To become a finalist, semifinalists and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Semifinalists 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.

Norfolk Academy has been fortunate to have numerous National Merit Finalists over the years. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from the group of finalists. They are chosen on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered next spring.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization, conducts the scholarship program.