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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.

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Ray Sullivan commented on FDOT to discuss widening Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island, new Destin Bridge at public meeting
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