The National Merit Scholarship is an academic competition for high school students where scholarships are awarded based on PSAT and SAT scores. The three finalists from Eagle High this year were seniors Annalese DeMange, Nikita Didenko and Tristan Walker.  

Out of approximately 15,000 semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship, only around 7,500 in the nation are finalists. These students qualified for the scholarships based upon not only their PSAT and SAT scores but their “abilities, skills and accomplishments” according to CollegeXpress.  

The National Merit qualifying index score changes year to year. This year, finalists have to receive an index score of 207 or higher in each section of the test in order to qualify. Index scores are calculated by adding each section from the test together, multiplying the sum by two and then dividing that number by ten.  

The students worked hard in order to qualify for the National Merit scholarship. After originally qualifying for the scholarship through their PSAT scores, students had to submit an application and then improve their score when they took the SAT.  

Senior Tristan Walker took the SAT very seriously in order to receive this award.  

“I studied 30 to 40 hours leading up to the test,” Walker said.  

While Walker is deciding between USC, University of Alabama or University of Tulsa for college, DeMange and Didenko remain undecided with lots of good options to choose from, considering their exemplary academics. The money from the National Merit Scholarship will help cover a small portion of their college tuition—up to $2500.