Queensbury High School senior Christopher DiPlacido has been named a semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Chris is one of 16,000 semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, which recognizes academically talented high school seniors.
Christopher will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 scholarships worth nearly $26 million in the spring. Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
More than 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 (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.
The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received.
Christopher serves as the president of the Student Senate and as a student liaison to the Queensbury UFSD Board of Education. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Key Club, Mock Trial and Captain’s Club. Chris, who is graduating in the top 5% of his class, is an active participant in varsity cross country, varsity track and field, and varsity Nordic skiing.
Of the 16,000 semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level, and those who advance will be notified in February. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of finalists.
Finalists will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships that will be awarded. Winners will be announced starting in April.