On September 10, 2025, officials from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists, and we are thrilled to celebrate nine of our seniors named as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, and fifteen nominated as Commended Scholars:  

Semifinalists

Grace A., Avi F., James F., Andrew H., Hera L-Y, Neya R., Ben R., Edward S., and Christopher S.

Commended Scholars

Alina A., Sarah B., Anvika C., Joel C., Sophia J., Yalini K., Hongming (Alan) M., Zhenqing (Rebecca) P., Adithya P., Geonwoo (Carson) S., Ethan (Shayan) S., Pranav S., Aarya V., Anvika V., Enxiang (Gabe) Z.

High school juniors entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as the initial screening of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants from about 21,000 high schools across the country. 

While they have outperformed the majority of over 1.3 million high school juniors who entered the Program by taking the 2024 PSAT test, these academically talented seniors’ quest is not over. To become a Finalist, they must also submit a detailed scholarship application showcasing their outstanding academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. They will be competing for over 6,000 scholarships worth more than $26 million, which will be awarded next spring. 

“With 24 of our 39 seniors recognized as semifinalists or commended scholars, we celebrate not just their academic accomplishments, but the integrity and spirit they bring to our BIM community.” –Kate Reynolds, Head of School

Please join us in congratulating our nine BIM Semifinalists and fifteen Commended Scholars!

BASIS Independent McLean is an Age 2–Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Red-Tailed Hawks community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.