Penn-Trafford High School is proud to announce that senior Adithri Pingali has been named a Semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation recently announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide in the 71st annual program.
These academically talented high school seniors represent less than one percent of all U.S. seniors and now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for nearly 7,000 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $26 million, which will be awarded in the spring of 2026.
Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists were chosen based on their exceptional performance on this exam and represent the highest-scoring students in each state.
To become a Finalist, Semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application highlighting their academic record, leadership, community service, and accomplishments. About 95 percent of Semifinalists are expected to advance to Finalist standing, and approximately half of those will earn the prestigious Merit Scholar® title.
“Adithri’s achievement is a reflection of her hard work, intelligence, and commitment to excellence,” said Mr. Tony Aquilio, Principal of Penn-Trafford High School. “We are extremely proud of her and excited to see what she accomplishes next.”
Adithri Pingali receiving Silver Keys from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in 2025