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Homestead High School Announces Two 2027 National Merit Program Semifinalists

Posted Date: 09/10/26 (07:00 AM)
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The National Merit Scholarship Competition (NMSC) recently announced the names of over 16,000 Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Homestead High School is excited to announce that two senior students, Cameron Kotlyarsky and Dylan Potts, have qualified as National Merit Semifinalists.


These academically talented 12th graders have an opportunity to continue competing for about 6,700 National Merit Scholarships, worth approximately $24 million, to be awarded next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of competition. Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. 


"We are thrilled to celebrate Cameron and Dylan on this prestigious achievement," said Eric Ebert, principal of Homestead High School. "Their passion for learning, combined with the steadfast support of their families and teachers, has set a high standard of academic excellence. We couldn't be prouder of these two scholars."


Over 1.2 million juniors across 20,000 high schools entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), 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 from each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.


Students who qualify as Semifinalists based on their PSAT/NMSQT performance are the only program participants eligible to advance to the Finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships. From the approximately 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. Finalists will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April 2027.


Find more information about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation at www.nationalmerit.org.