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National Merit Scholars

Congratulations MMSD Scholars!

Focus, creativity, excellence—every day, our educators push our scholars to focus on their coursework, encourage them to embrace and express their creativity, and challenge them to demand excellence of themselves, in the classroom and out. These are among the core values that underpin MMSD’s strategic framework, and they’re ones that have been embodied by beneficiaries of the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) since its inception.

Forty-three seniors across three Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) high schools have been named among 16,000 semifinalists (out of approximately 1.3 million eligible candidates) in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

“These results highlight the incredible talent, perseverance and dedication of our students, as well those who support them,” said Superintendent Joe Gothard. “Achievements like this remind us of the potential within every student and reinforce our commitment to providing rigorous, high-quality learning opportunities for them.” 

Semifinalists were determined based on their performance on the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which tested participants in the areas of evidence-based reading, writing, language and mathematics. 

The full list of MMSD’s semifinalists is as follows: 

  • Josemaria Barut (East)
  • Naomi Jovaag (East)
  • Oliver Hoeksema (East)
  • Theodore Beilfuss (East)
  • Alex Byrnes (Memorial)
  • Anya Isaac (Memorial)
  • Jason Li (Memorial)
  • Josh Pierotti (Memorial)
  • Kayla Shelton (Memorial)
  • Mable Miller (Memorial)
  • Michelle Cai (Memorial)
  • Nina Zhu (Memorial)
  • Raena Grainger (Memorial)
  • Simon Sellwood (Memorial)
  • Thanish Lankella (Memorial)
  • Angelina Chang (West)
  • August Andersen (West)
  • Beatrice Vaughan (West)
  • Benjamin Mayeshiba (West)
  • Brandon Royalty (West)
  • Chase Xia (West)
  • Christabel Engel (West)
  • Clara Warrick (West)
  • Edward Bradbury (West)
  • Eleanor Lawler (West)
  • Enzo Ng (West)
  • Gabriela Retana (West)
  • Hunter Shadman (West)
  • Isaac Hessman (West)
  • Joseph Beal (West)
  • Lauren Alibali (West) 
  • Madeleine Bohn (West)
  • Mae Loewen (West)
  • Noah Estrella (West)
  • Ravi Suryan-Beilin (West)
  • Rosemary Walsh (West)
  • Samuel Carlsson (West)
  • Seth Banks (West)
  • Silas Grant (West)
  • Steven Kuemmel (West)
  • Tavish Kennedy (West)
  • Timon Cantley (West)
  • Zijun He (West)

Pictures from the 2025 National Merit Semi-Finalist Celebration

A group of people, some with curly hair, standing in a colorful and vibrant classroom setting with displays on the walls.
Two individuals, a man and a woman, are standing in a hallway, both wearing light blue shirts. The background appears to be an office or workplace setting, with whiteboards and other office equipment visible.
The image shows three young women engaged in a lively conversation, with a colorful and vibrant background featuring various visual elements.
A group of people, some standing and some seated, engaged in conversation in what appears to be a casual, informal setting.
The image shows a group of people gathered in what appears to be a cafeteria or dining area, with various food and drink items displayed on tables in the foreground, and balloons and signage visible in the background.
A group of young people, some standing and some seated, gathered in a room with blue and white walls, balloons, and what appear to be awards or certificates.
Three young men standing in front of a blue backdrop with the Madison Metropolitan School District logo, surrounded by colorful balloons.
The image shows a group of people gathered in what appears to be an office or workplace setting, with colorful balloons in the background.
The image shows three people standing in front of a colorful backdrop, with the woman in the middle holding a chalkboard.
A group of people, some wearing casual clothing and others in business attire, are gathered in what appears to be a crowded indoor setting, possibly an airport or train station.
The image shows three people standing together, with a woman in the middle holding a tablet device, flanked by an older woman and a man in a suit.
The image shows three individuals standing in front of a large screen displaying the word %22Events%22. The individuals appear to be in a professional setting, with the two women wearing casual attire and the man wearing a suit.
The image shows three people standing in front of a colorful backdrop, with one person holding a tablet or device.
The image shows three individuals standing in front of a colorful backdrop with the text %22Merit Finalists%22 displayed prominently. The individuals appear to be posing for a photograph, with the person in the middle holding a tablet or device.
The image shows three people standing in front of a colorful background, with the woman in the middle holding a tablet device.
The image shows three people standing in front of a colorful backdrop with the text %22Merit Finalists%22 displayed.
The image shows three individuals standing in front of a colorful background with text and graphics. The individuals appear to be in a professional setting, with the two men wearing suits and the woman wearing a patterned dress.
The image shows three people standing in front of a colorful backdrop, with the woman in the middle holding a document.
The image shows an older woman and a middle-aged man standing together, with the man holding a certificate or award. The background is colorful and appears to be a school or educational setting, with various decorations and signage visible.
The image shows three people standing in front of a backdrop with the text %22Merit lists%22 displayed prominently.
The image shows three people standing in front of a colorful background with various graphics and text.
The image shows three individuals standing in front of a backdrop with the text %22Skill Merit Finalists%22 displayed. The individuals appear to be receiving some kind of award or recognition, with one of them holding a tablet or device.
The image shows three individuals standing together, with a colorful background featuring various geometric shapes and patterns.
The image shows three people standing in front of a colorful background. The person in the middle is holding a tablet device, while the other two individuals are standing on either side of them.
The image shows three individuals standing in front of a colorful backdrop with various text and graphics displayed on a screen behind them.
The image shows three people standing in front of a colorful backdrop with the text %22All Merit Finalists%22 displayed.
Three individuals, two women and one man, are standing in front of a large blue backdrop with the text %22I Merit Specialists%22 displayed.
The image shows three individuals standing in front of a colorful backdrop with the text %22Merit Finalists%22 displayed prominently.
The image shows three individuals standing in front of a colorful backdrop with the text %22Merit lists%22 displayed prominently.
The image shows four people standing in front of a backdrop with the Madison Metropolitan School District logo. The individuals are dressed in winter attire, including coats and hats, and appear to be posing for a photograph.
The image shows four individuals standing in front of a backdrop with the text %22National Merit Semifinalists%22 and the Madison logo. The individuals appear to be adults, with one wearing a red shirt, another a polka dot shirt, and the other two in suits.
The image shows three individuals standing in front of a backdrop with the text %22National Merit Finalists%22 displayed. The individuals appear to be posing for a photograph, with one person holding a tablet device.
A woman in a black and white floral dress stands in front of a colorful, vibrant background with various words and phrases written on it.
The image shows a group of people sitting around a table, engaged in what appears to be a discussion or collaborative activity. The foreground features two individuals closely examining a document or paper, while the background includes several other people seated at the table, some of whom appear to be observing or participating in the discussion.
The image shows an older man with gray hair and a beard standing at a podium, gesturing with his hands as he speaks. The background is a colorful, vibrant display of handwritten notes or messages on various colored papers.
The image shows three people, two women and one man, sitting at a table and looking at something on the table in front of them. The background appears to be a plain, light-colored wall.
Two women are standing in front of a backdrop with the Madison Metropolitan School District logo, smiling and posing for a photograph.
The image shows four people standing in front of a blue backdrop with the %22Madison Metropolitan School District%22 logo visible.
The image shows a group of people sitting at tables in what appears to be a classroom or study area, with various colorful chairs and tables, and a cluttered background with more people visible.
The image shows three people standing in front of a blue backdrop with the Madison logo, surrounded by colorful balloons.
The image shows a colorful and vibrant classroom setting, with two individuals seated at a table, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity or discussion. The background features a variety of artwork and decorations, creating a lively and engaging learning environment.
Two smiling women are seated at a table in a colorful, modern classroom setting with various educational materials and furniture visible in the background.
A group of four people, two women and two men, are standing together in a colorful and vibrant office environment, smiling and appearing to be engaged in conversation.
Two women standing in front of a backdrop with the Madison Metropolitan School District logo, one wearing a brown sweater and the other wearing a gray jacket.
The image shows three people engaged in conversation in what appears to be an office or professional setting, with a blue wall and doors visible in the background.
Two smiling women, one with blonde hair and the other with brown hair, are standing together in what appears to be a brightly lit indoor setting with colorful displays and signage in the background.
A group of students holding certificates and standing in front of a wall with the Madison logo, surrounded by blue and yellow balloons.
A group of people, mostly young adults, are standing together holding certificates in a room with blue and yellow balloons and Madison branding on the wall.
A group of people standing in front of a colorful, patterned wall with a banner that says %22National Merit Semifinalists%22.
A colorful and lively conference room filled with people seated at tables, surrounded by vibrant displays and screens on the walls.
A group of people are gathered around a large table, engaged in discussion and examining various materials laid out on the table.
A man in a suit stands at a podium in a colorful, modern office space with vibrant wall art and displays.
A colorful and vibrant conference room filled with people seated at tables, with a large, eye-catching mural on the wall in the background.
Two smiling individuals, a woman and a man, are embracing each other in a warm and affectionate manner against a plain white background.

Meet our National Merit Scholar Semifinalists