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72nd Annual National Merit Semifinalists

A white emblem and text announcing %22Twenty HCS Students Named National Merit Semifinalists%22 are centered on a blue background featuring a graduation cap silhouette.

September 10, 2026

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of 20 Horry County Schools students as Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These HCS students are among approximately 16,000 Semifinalists who have an opportunity to compete for nearly 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million.

HCS National Merit Semifinalists

  • From the Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology and North Myrtle Beach High: Anthony Panza

  • From the Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology and St. James High:  Camryn Studwell

  • From Aynor High: Sullivan Rea

  • From Carolina Forest High: Kade Taylor

  • From Conway High: Aiden Pridgen

  • From Scholars Academy High: Ian Bellamy, Christopher Botse-Baidoo, Noah Fomundam, Jake Garay, Luke Johnston, Liliana Laoutaris, Paige Mayhew, Jayden Ockert, Kristiney Pham, Katherine Ramos, Nathanael Thomason, Kili Trentini, and Siena Trentini

  • From Socastee High: Zachary Bovee 

  • From St. James High: Colton Warren

National Merit Semifinalists

A young man with light brown, messy hair smiles at the camera in the foreground, set against a plain gray background.
Anthony Panza

Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology and North Myrtle Beach High School

A young woman with long brown hair and glasses smiles at the camera, wearing a pearl necklace against a blue, textured background.
Camryn Studewell

Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology and St. James High School

High school juniors across the country 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 in each state.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application. 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 scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test.

From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 typically advance to the Finalist level. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, regardless of gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2027. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships awarded on a state-representational basis. About 700 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 120 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria. In addition, about 140 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,500 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution. 

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2027 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July.