Five Students Named Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit® Scholarship Program
The School District of Lee County is excited to announce five students have been selected as Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit® Scholarship Program. National Merit® Semifinalists represent less than 1% of all high school seniors.
The students are:
Bonita Springs High School
• Veereshwar Gupta
Dunbar High School
• John Courtney
• Dylan Melillo Pendery
Fort Myers High School
• Megan Emery
• Jaya Parsa
“Veer is, not only an academic superstar, but also a kindhearted young man who is always seeking opportunities to help his classmates,” said Bonita Springs High School Principal Jeff Estes. “He is curious, open-minded and a gifted musician and tennis player. Veer's friendliness, enthusiasm for learning and great sense of humor make him an outstanding leader in our Bull Shark family!”
1.3 million High school juniors entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of more than 16,000 Semifinalists includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.
“I am so proud of both Dylan and John being named National Merit Semifinalists for 2025 as their achievement not only reflects their dedication and intelligence but also continues the proud tradition of excellence at Dunbar High School,” Principal Carl Burnside said. “As they join the ranks of our distinguished National Merit alumni, they continue the legacy of exceptional scholars and continued the tradition of greatness by making their mark on Dunbar’s storied history of achievement on the national and global levels.”
About 15,000 students are expected to advance to the Finalist level in February. To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and their high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application with the student’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, honors, endorsements and an essay. They will then compete for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth $26 million that will be announced next spring.
“The Green Wave family is incredibly proud of Megan and Jaya!,” said Fort Myers High School Principal Chris Engelhart. “They are outstanding students and set a great example for others to follow. This is a tremendous honor and is a testament to their intelligence, determination, and a lot of hard work. Congratulations Megan and Jaya!”