The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is a not-for-profit organization that conducts the National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual competition among high school students for recognition and college scholarships. According to a press release by the NMSC, over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

Of those, about 34,000 of the high scorers were designated as Commended Students, including Frenship High School students Kevin Chen, Aisaiah Lugisse, and Aryan Roghani.  The NMSC recognized these three students with Letters of Commendation for their academic excellence and achievements.

As a Semifinalist, Dyal is among the highest-scoring entrance in Texas and represents less than 1% of the nation’s high school graduating seniors. She has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million.

“I’m proud to be selected as a Semifinalist,” said Dyal. “But I’m really just happy that I could make my teachers and counselors proud.”

To become a Finalist, Dyal will submit a detailed scholarship application that includes information about her academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. In February, about 15,000 Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist stage.

For more information on the NMSC, CLICK HERE.