(09/10/2025) Andover High School senior Emma Yu has been named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and is in the running to earn one of 6,930 scholarships of up to $2,500 for college. 

Yu is among some 16,000 semifinalists nationally who have the opportunity to become a National Merit Scholar. 

To become a semifinalist, high school juniors entered the National Merit Scholarship program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. 

Next, the semifinalists will submit a detailed scholarship application, providing information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors and awards received, among other requirements.

From the 16,000 semifinalists, 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level in February. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of finalists. About 830 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships will be provided and about 150 colleges and universities are expected to finance 3,600 college-sponsored scholarships.

National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.