4 Trumbull High School Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

TRUMBULL, CT — The National Merit Scholarship Corporation this week announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

In Trumbull, the following four students from Trumbull High School made the list:

• Katherine R. Derose
• Pranav M. Kodakara
• Saihari Kota
• Yash Y. Permalla

These high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth a total of nearly $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.

Among the requirements are an excellent academic record, participation in school and community activities, and demonstrated leadership abilities, among other criteria.

From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2022. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit® $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis.

About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 220 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria.

In addition, about 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2022 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.

— Brian McCready, Patch Staff contributed to this report.