CPS students named National Merit Scholars

Three Columbia Public Schools students have been named National Merit Scholars earning the prestigious national scholarship recognition.

Liang Chun Lim, Hickman High School (National Merit)
Jenna L. Lin, Rock Bridge High School (National Merit)
Annalise H. Powell, Rock Bridge High School (College-Sponsored National Merit)
 

2026 National Merit Scholarship Competition
High school juniors entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program when they took
the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which
served as an initial screen of program entrants. Last fall, more than 16,000 Semifinalists were
named on a state-representational basis in numbers proportional to each state’s percentage of the
national total of graduating high school seniors. Semifinalists were the highest-scoring program
entrants in each state and represented less than one percent of the nation’s seniors.

To compete for Merit Scholarship awards, Semifinalists first had to advance to the Finalist
level of the competition by fulfilling additional requirements. Each Semifinalist was asked to
submit a detailed scholarship application, which included writing an essay and providing
information about extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership positions. Semifinalists also
had to have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school
official, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirmed the qualifying test performance. From
the Semifinalist group, over 15,000 met requirements for Finalist standing, and about half of the
Finalists will be Merit Scholarship winners in 2026.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was
established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. The majority of National
Merit Scholarships provided each year are made possible by the support of approximately 300
independent corporate and college sponsors. These sponsors join NMSC in its efforts to enhance
educational opportunities for America’s scholastically talented youth and to encourage the
pursuit of academic excellence.