Five Manatee County Students Named 2026 National Merit Semifinalists
Five Manatee County students have been named semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among the top one percent of high school seniors in the nation.
This year’s honorees include Kevin Chen of Braden River High School, Richard May of Manatee High School, Benjamin Barr of Palmetto High School, Pearson L. Walters of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, and Sarah Weis of SCF Collegiate School.
More than 1.3 million students across the United States took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) during their junior year, with about 16,000 achieving semifinalist status. The qualifying score, known as the Selection Index, varies by state. In Florida, students needed a score of 219 to advance, compared with lower thresholds in states such as Wyoming and higher cutoffs in states like Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Semifinalists now move forward in the competition, where they must meet additional academic and application requirements to become finalists. Students who advance may become eligible for various scholarships, including the Florida-based Benacquisto Scholarship. That award covers the full cost of attendance at select Florida colleges and universities, including the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, and University of South Florida.
The National Merit Scholarship Program, established in 1955, recognizes and supports academically talented students nationwide. Finalists will be announced in 2026, with scholarship awards distributed beginning in the spring.
The recognition marks a significant milestone for the students and their schools, highlighting both individual achievement and the strength of Manatee County’s educational community.
