Marmion Academy in Aurora is proud to announce that seniors Ryan Bennett of Sugar Grove and Nicholas Wilson of North Aurora have been named finalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Bennett and Wilson are among the top 15,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction of finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). To become a National Merit finalist, semifinalists must submit detailed scholarship applications, which includes their academic records, extracurricular activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors, and awards. They must be endorsed by a high school official, submit an essay, and perform well on the SAT. The National Merit Scholarship program honors students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
More than 1.5 Million juniors in approximately 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. According to the NMSC, by the conclusion of the 2021 competition approximately 7,500 finalists will be selected as National Merit Scholarship recipients.
—Marmion Academy