By Caleb Youngblood, Public Relations Coordinator
September 24, 2026
The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is proud to announce that nine of our students have been named Semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC). Of the 1.3 million students who entered the 72nd annual NMSC program, only 16,000 were chosen as Semifinalists.
The following students will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million that will be offered next spring:
- Christopher Chen is from New Albany, MS and previously attended New Albany High School.
- Amy Choi is from Starkville, MS and previously attended Starkville High School.
- Katie Chung is from Starkville, MS and previously attended Starkville High School.
- Hutch Clemons is from Columbus, MS and previously attended Heritage Academy.
- Cecelia Buehler is from Starkville, MS and previously attended Starkville High School.
- Samantha Diamond is from Vancleave, MS and previously attended St. Martin High School.
- Angelina Tan is from Starkville, MS and previously attended Starkville High School.
- Khang Tran is from Ocean Springs, MS and previously attended Ocean Springs High School.
- Maya Venkat is from Hattiesburg, MS and previously attended Sacred Heart Catholic High School.
Competition entrants had to take the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as a junior. All MSMS juniors partake in this exam each October with the other national entrants. These nine students now reside in a nationwide grouping of Semifinalists who represent less than one percent of high school seniors in the U.S.
In order to advance, Semifinalists and a high school official are required to submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, with approximately half of the Finalists winning a National Merit Scholarship and earning the coveted “Merit Scholar” title.
Finalists will then compete for three kinds of scholarships: corporate-sponsored, college or university-sponsored and National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards. In addition to the honor and recognition that comes along with being named a National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist, the award can often be leveraged to secure additional scholarships to a variety of colleges or universities. Beginning April 2027, The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will announce the National Merit Scholarship Finalists.
NMSC was formed in 1955 as a non-profit organization that operates without government assistance. Approximately 260 business organizations and higher education institutions align with NMSC to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program in the pursuit of academic excellence.
To learn more about the scholarship program, visit www.nationalmerit.org