The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) has announced St. Mary Catholic High School (SMCHS) senior William Walsh, son of William and Julie Walsh, as a 2022 National Merit Scholar semifinalist.

This rigorous recognition program begins in a student’s junior year of high school, when 1.4 million students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQRT,) which serves as an initial screening. William is among the top scoring students in the nation, ranking in the top one percent of U.S. high school seniors for academic achievement.

“We are extremely proud of William Walsh’s recognition as a semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program,” SMCHS Principal Patti Fouts said. “This level of recognition is a result of William’s dedication and commitment to academic excellence.”

For William to become a finalist, he and SMCHS submitted a detailed application that includes his academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities and honors and awards received. Further requirements include an outstanding academic record throughout high school, being endorsed and recommended by a high school official, writing an essay and earning an SAT score that confirms the earlier qualifying test results. Honorees who are then further honored as National Merit Scholar Finalists in spring 2022 are eligible for associated scholarships worth thousands of dollars.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program and honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.