Batavia High School Student Named Semifinalist In National Merit Scholarship Program

BATAVIA, IL — A Batavia High School student was named a semifinalist in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, Batavia Public School District 101 announced Friday.

Peter Day is among the 16,000 semifinalists in the 72nd annual program that awards nearly $24 million in scholarships to high school seniors across the country.

More than 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level. Those who will move on will learn if they've earned the next distinction in February.

To become a finalist, Day and a high school official will have to submit a detailed application sharing information about the semifinalist's academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards he has received.

To be considered, semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test.

About 6,700 scholarships will be awarded to winners in the spring.