7 Ridgewood and Glen Rock Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Seven local high school students from Ridgewood and Glen Rock have been officially named semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
These high-achieving scholars are among 511 students selected across New Jersey and more than 16,000 nationwide who now have the opportunity to compete for prestigious undergraduate college scholarships worth $2,000 per year or more.
How Students Qualified: The NJ PSAT Cutoff Score
Selection as a National Merit Semifinalist is based on performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) taken during the students’ junior year.
To determine qualification, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation calculates a Selection Index score by doubling the reading and writing score, adding it to the math score, and dividing by 10. For this year’s program, New Jersey maintained one of the highest benchmark qualifying scores in the nation:
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New Jersey Qualifying Score Cutoff: 225 and above
The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents public high schools, regional magnet programs, private academies, and accredited online schools across the state.
Local 2026–2027 National Merit Semifinalists
Congratulations to the seven local students recognized for their academic performance:
Glen Rock High School
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Selina Y. Feng
Ridgewood High School
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Amari Abdalla
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Earnest J. Arnt-Schemmel
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Aidan Han
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Cheng Ze Liang
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Edward Liu
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Sia Sung
Next Steps Toward National Merit Finalist Status
Being named a semifinalist is the first step in a competitive multi-stage evaluation. To advance to Finalist standing, candidates must submit a comprehensive scholarship application detailing their academic record, school involvement, leadership abilities, employment history, and honors.
Finalists will be announced next spring, competing for a portion of nearly 7,000 four-year, no-strings-attached National Merit Scholarships valued at over $28 million.
Key Takeaways
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Local Honorees: 6 students from Ridgewood High School and 1 student from Glen Rock High School earned semifinalist standing.
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Statewide Benchmark: New Jersey had 511 total semifinalists qualify with a PSAT Selection Index cutoff score of 225+.
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What’s Next: Finalists will be selected in spring 2027 based on high school achievements, essays, and endorsements.
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Tags:
Ridgewood NJ,Glen Rock NJ,Bergen County,Education,Ridgewood High School,Glen Rock High School,National Merit Scholarship
