NORMAN, OK (Sept. 11, 2024) — Norman Public Schools (NPS) is proud to announce that 16 of its students have been named Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. This outstanding achievement places these students among the top high school seniors in the nation and highlights the exceptional academic standards maintained by NPS.

The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. These Semifinalists have an opportunity to continue in the competition for more than 7,000 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

"We are so proud of our 16 National Merit Semifinalists. Their achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and intellectual curiosity,” said Dr. Nick Migliorino, NPS Superintendent. “It also reflects the support of their families and the commitment of our outstanding educators. At NPS, we strive to provide an environment where every student can reach their full potential, and these young scholars exemplify the excellence we aim to foster. They not only represent the best of NPS but also serve as an inspiration to their peers and our entire community."

The 16 NPS students named as National Merit Semifinalists are:

• Fiona Chen, Norman North High School

• Joshua Cheng, Norman High School

• Owen Eshelman, Norman North High School

• Charlotte Gentry, Norman High School

• Rafael Gomez, Norman North High School

• Sullivan Ho, Norman High School

• Jayson Homer, Norman High School

• Zed Irvin, Norman High School

• James Keys, Norman High School

• Ethan Li, Norman North High School

• Alexander Papavassiliou, Norman North High School

• Arya Ramineedi, Norman North High School

• Connor Simms, Norman North High School

• Francis Staat, Norman North High School

• Patrick Thai, Norman High School

• Owen Treadway, Norman North High School

To become a Finalist, Semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application, providing information about their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test.

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