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John Paul Schafer Named Semifinalist in 2025 National Merit® Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit® Scholarship Program. Pinecrest Academy senior, John Paul Schafer, is among those named as Semifinalists.
John Paul will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, to 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.
Over 1.3 million juniors entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
More than 15,000 Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists.
National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.
John Paul will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, to 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.
Over 1.3 million juniors entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
More than 15,000 Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists.
National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.
Pinecrest Academy is a private PreK-12 Catholic school located in Cumming, South Forsyth, just minutes from Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Suwanee. We serve families of all faiths seeking a Christian education for their children. To learn more about our unique educational philosophy, visit our Welcome page.
SEMPER ALTIUS = ALWAYS HIGHER
The mission of Pinecrest Academy is reflected in the word Integer, which is Latin for “whole,” or “entire,” and reflects our goal of forming the whole child as an authentic “Person in Christ.” The school motto Semper Altius, means “Always Higher,” and challenges our students, parents, staff and faculty to strive for excellence in all areas of Integral Formation® - intellectual, spiritual, human and apostolic.
The mission of Pinecrest Academy is reflected in the word Integer, which is Latin for “whole,” or “entire,” and reflects our goal of forming the whole child as an authentic “Person in Christ.” The school motto Semper Altius, means “Always Higher,” and challenges our students, parents, staff and faculty to strive for excellence in all areas of Integral Formation® - intellectual, spiritual, human and apostolic.
