Local Scholars Recognized for Top Performance on PSAT/NMSQT, Vie for Prestigious Scholarships
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Several exceptional students from Pasco County have been named Semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, recognizing them among the top academic performers in the United States.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, an organization dedicated to recognizing academic excellence, announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide. These high school seniors represent less than one percent of U.S. high school juniors who entered the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
The number of Semifinalists in each state is proportional to the state’s total of graduating seniors. The students from Pasco County Schools who earned this distinction are now eligible to compete for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million.
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To advance to the Finalist level, Semifinalists must submit a detailed application, maintain their strong academic records, earn recommendations from school officials, and submit SAT or ACT scores that confirm their PSAT performance. Approximately 95% of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists.
The Pasco County Schools Semifinalists are:
Land O’ Lakes High School
- Luke J. Griffis
- Mahathi Mandava
- Rishitha S. Nekkanti
- Sarika Panthangi
- Consuelo C. Pinilla
- Yana M. Trivedi
Sunlake High School
- Eliza Lammers
J.W. Mitchell High School (Trinity)
- Grant Kelly
- Bruce Williams
Wesley Chapel High School
- Camden Battey
- Jackson Purcell
Wiregrass Ranch High School (Wesley Chapel)
- Ellena Duprat
- Lakshmi Nooka
- Gavin Sawall
- Amber Yuan
These students, along with others from across the country, are honored for their exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Winners of the scholarships will be announced in nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July 2026.
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