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29 SUSD Seniors Named Semifinalists for 2026 National Merit Scholarships

29 SUSD Seniors Named Semifinalists for 2026 National Merit Scholarships

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Sept. 11, 2025) – Nearly 30 seniors from the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) have been recognized as Semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit® Scholarship Program, joining more than 400 students across Arizona. The National Merit Scholarship is one of the country’s most esteemed academic honors, celebrating outstanding achievement among high school students. 

Each year, the program honors outstanding high school seniors across the nation for their academic excellence, leadership within their school communities, and strong potential for success in challenging post-secondary education. 

Of the more than 1.3 million students who took the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) last fall as juniors, more than 16,000 Semifinalists have been selected to continue in the competition, including the following seniors from these SUSD high schools: 

  • Arcadia High School ‒ 3 students, including: William Carroll, Tessa Dwyer-Kim, Cian Fehlberg  
  • Chaparral High School ‒ 8 students, including: Prithvi Anickode, Ellegra Davis, Gavin Frindell, Michael Kahn, Arielle Kutz, Aidan Primack, Aidan Song, Aditya Tyagi  
  • Desert Mountain High School ‒ 15 students, including: Pradyumn Anupindi, Lauren Howie, Ayana Jain, Freya Karve, Roshni Nagarakanti, Aman Patel, Armaan Patel, Mai Piel, Elizabeth Shen, Sophia Smiljanich, Kavya Sud, Aarna Tanna, Alessandra Utterback, Cassidy Veale, Lyla Yango 

“We’re incredibly proud of our students’ hard work and dedication,” said SUSD’s Superintendent, Dr. Scott Menzel.  “Being named National Merit Semifinalists is a testament to these students' exceptional achievement and a reflection of our district’s strong commitment to academic excellence.” 

The 29 SUSD students, along with other Semifinalists nationwide, represent less than one percent of the Class of 2026 and are among the highest-scoring students in each state. These exceptional students now advance to the Finalist stage, where they will spend the coming weeks completing a comprehensive scholarship application. This includes submitting their academic records, detailing their involvement in school and community activities, employment history, and any honors or awards they’ve earned. Additionally, they must write an essay, secure a recommendation from a high school official, and provide SAT® or ACT® scores that validate their outstanding performance on the PSAT taken in their junior year. 
 
Finalists competing for nearly $26 million in college scholarships will be announced in February 2026. National Merit Scholarship winners will be revealed in a series of nationwide announcements scheduled from April through July 2026. 

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About the Scottsdale Unified School District 
With more than 21,000 students in 30 schools, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) has been a premier choice for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public education for 127 years. Located northeast of metropolitan Phoenix, the District serves the educational needs of students and families in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe and Scottsdale. A highly experienced, professionally certified teaching staff fosters a diverse and rigorous educational environment that engages all students in world-class, future-focused learning. Offering gifted learning, special education, career and technical education, and a variety of athletics, arts and enrichment programs and clubs, SUSD provides the rich environment today’s students need to explore their interests, develop important social skills and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, visit www.susd.org and follow along on social media: Facebook: @ScottsdaleUSD, Instagram: @ScottsdaleUnifiedSD, LinkedIn and YouTube.