The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced today that Martin High School STEM Academy senior Joel Lee is a Semifinalist in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Over 1.2 million juniors from about 20,000 high schools across the country entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Lee’s score placed him in the top 1% and earned his designation as a Semifinalist.
Catherine Wimbrey, Lee’s counselor at the STEM Academy, is not surprised that Lee did so well.
“He is a very determined and resourceful student who does not take no for an answer and consistently finds ways to overcome challenges to accomplish his goals,” Wimbrey said about Lee.
Lee and the other Semifinalists will now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for about 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $24 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.
About 95% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.