West Liberty is proud to announce that senior Jacob Zeman has been selected as a semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program!
Last Wednesday, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
The Competition
Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, 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. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist 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. From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 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. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
National Merit Scholarship winners of 2025 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 382,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
West Liberty’s Jacob Zeman
Jacob is a senior at West Liberty high school. He is involved in all the school fine arts: band, choir, jazz band, improv, stage manager for school plays and musicals, head drum major for marching band, and captain for show choir. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. While involved in all of this Jacob has maintained a 4.35 GPA. When asked about what the award means to him, he responded “being nominated for this scholarship feels like the reward for all the work I've put into my classes and education that teachers have talked about since elementary.” “Opportunities only come when you say yes. I didn't know anything about the PSAT when I was asked to take it last year, and it didn't sound fun to spend a morning doing more standardized testing. However, I said that I'd do it, and now it's turning into a big opportunity for me, which would have never happened if I had said no to two or three hours of testing.” When asked if he had any other comments he made sure to thank those who have helped him along the way. “I'd like to thank my parents and teachers for teaching me what I need to know academically, and more importantly, for teaching me the work ethic and personal responsibility I need to succeed."
Good luck, Jacob! Be sure to keep an eye out for updates on this story!