The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program on September 11, 2024. That announcement included five seniors from Putnam County Schools.

Named were: Cole Whittington, Buffalo High School; Stephanie Fischer, Hurricane High School; Katherine Williams, Hurricane High School; Aarshi Lamichhane, Hurricane High School; and Mason Daily, Winfield High School.

These five Putnam high school seniors will continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million.

To compete for National Merit Scholarships, Semifinalists must advance to the Finalist level of the competition by fulfilling several additional requirements. A Semifinalist can become a Finalist and compete for a Merit Scholarship award in only one program year. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, regardless of gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

The 2025 National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding into July. Scholarship recipients will join more than 382,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.