National Merit Finalists
Every October, high school juniors across the country take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). Although the test is not mandatory, all eight high schools in Kanawha County offer the test to their juniors.
Nationally, about 1.3 million juniors take the test each year. The PSAT is the first step towards the ultimate goal of earning a Merit Scholarship. Let's take a look at how it works. We'll use the timeline for this year National Merit Finalists
The National Merit Timeline
- October, 2023 - 1.3 Million High School Juniors take the PSAT
- April, 2024 - 50,000 students are identified as High Scorers
- September, 2024 - 16,000 students (who are now seniors) are named as Semifinalists
- February, 2025 - 15,000 students are named National Merit Finalists
Top of the Class
Students that earn the title of National Merit Finalist make up the top 2% of students that took the PSAT.
Kanawha County Schools is excited to announce that nine students who took the PSAT in October of 2023, have been named National Merit Finalists! This is a tremendous honor for these students and is a testament to their commitment to academics. Please help KCS congratulate our 2025 National Merit Finalists.
Meet Your National Merit Finalists
🔹 Veda Bendre, George Washington High School
🔹 Julia Griffith, George Washington High School
🔹 Ava Katz, George Washington High School
🔹 Archana Krishnathas, George Washington High School
🔹 Shrihan Malkaram, George Washington High School
🔹 Olivia Sizemore, George Washington High School
🔹 Nathaniel Jackson, Herbert Hoover High School
🔹 Addison Dangerfield, Nitro High School
🔹 Lucas Shamblin, Sissonville High School
👏🥳 Congratulations to each one of you! You all should be proud of yourselves!
Being named a National Merit Finalist earns students many different opportunities for scholarships as they go on to further their education.