Korbel, Lee Named National Merit Semifinalists

Congratulations to XHS seniors, Justin Korbel and Joanne Lee, who have both been named 2021 National Merit Semifinalists!

Justin and Joanne are among nearly 16,000 high school seniors who have been announced as semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. These students will compete for 7,600 scholarships, worth around $30 million, awarded in the coming spring. 


Over 1.5 million juniors in approximately 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 competition last school year by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as the initial screen for program entrants. 

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2021. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships awarded in each state. Approximately 220 corporations and business organizations will provide at least 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. 

Also, about 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,100 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution. 

To become a finalist, semifinalists and high school officials must submit detailed scholarship applications, with an academic record, participation in school and community activities, and demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards. Semifinalists must have outstanding academic records throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by high school officials, and write essays. 

Merit Scholar designees are selected because of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.