Leon Wang ’26 Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

A big kudos to Leon Wang’26! The National Merit Scholarship Program announced last week that Leon has been named a semifinalist for its 71st annual competition.

Leon joins a distinguished group of high-achieving students nationwide who advanced to this level of the program. Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as the initial screen of entrants. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.

“This recognition serves as a reminder to continue pushing myself as I work toward my future academic and career goals,” said Leon. “I also see it as a reflection of my journey at King, where teachers and classmates have encouraged me to challenge myself, stay curious, and grow in ways that made this achievement possible.”

To become a finalist, Leon must now submit a detailed scholarship application that includes his academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership, employment, and honors and awards received. Finalists will be announced in February 2026, and scholarship winners will follow in the spring.

“Leon’s academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to learning embody the best of King,” said Director of College Counseling Jessica Landis. “We are thrilled to see him recognized at this prestigious level and look forward to his continued success as he moves through the process.”

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will award three types of scholarships: 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, about 830 corporate-sponsored scholarships, and about 3,600 college-sponsored scholarships. Winners will be announced beginning in April and continuing through July 2026