Search
Close this search box.

Four Okaloosa students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

Four Okaloosa County high school students have qualified as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, placing them among the top one percent of U.S. high school seniors.
From left: Choctawhatchee High School students Jonathan Curtis and Tina Le, and Niceville High School students Lily Suttlemyre and William Cupp have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. (Photo provided)

Four Okaloosa County students have been named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship competition, making them eligible to compete for scholarships valued at nearly $26 million nationwide.

  • The semifinalists include Lily Suttlemyre and William Cupp from Niceville High School, and Jonathan Curtis and Tina Le from Choctawhatchee High School.

“I am extremely proud of these students and their dedication in achieving this recognition,” Superintendent Marcus Chambers said. “The process is rigorous, and those honored at any level for their academic excellence deserve it.”

To qualify for the prestigious program, students must take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test during their junior year. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and are the highest-scoring entrants in their respective states.

To advance to finalist status, the students must maintain their academic excellence, submit a comprehensive scholarship application, receive a school official’s endorsement, write an essay, and achieve qualifying SAT or ACT scores.

Finalists will compete for one of 6,870 National Merit Scholarships.

Join the conversation...

Continue reading 👇

Community Comments

“Thee is no such a thing as affordable housing for over half the people that live in this area. People can’t afford 300, 400 or 500k for a house. Build...”
Respond
“That portion has been closed because of wild hogs destroying it, I believe”
Respond
“Got make up for the 10 mill purchase of the SS United States and getting fined 1k a day while it still sits in port”
Respond
“Follow the $. It's highly probable the developers have a military connection. And "affordable housing" is a sad case of smoke and mirrors.”
Respond
“Why not give the actual location of the new school, but from the little you gave on that point, I'm "assuming" that it will, like just about nearly every school...”
Respond
“Is HCA Twin Cities able to provide cardiac care?”
Respond
“It is amazing on one hand Walton county will purchase 2,000 acres for a state park and claim it is all about the enviroment amd protecting the Florida Black Bear...”
Respond
“Here goes all our natural Woods & Wild Life . Next thing you know they'll be building Businesses. And Gas Stations . And Big Houses .”
Respond
“It would be nice to know where it will be located. What about designs and will it have primitive camping or a combination of RV sites. What, no artist rendition?...”
Respond
“Can we get a more exact location of the park???”
Respond

GET OUR FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER

Get the weekday email that actually makes reading local news enjoyable again.