For 2024, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced 19 Indian American students from Nevada, out of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, in the 69^th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. 2024 brought in a record number of Indian-American students from Nevada honored as semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship. These academically talented high school seniors can continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered in 2024 spring.

All the Semifinalists below have an outstanding academic record throughout high school and are endorsed and recommended by a high school official. As part of the competition, the Semifinalists wrote an essay and earned SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. These exemplary students have regularly participated in school and community activities, earned numerous honors and awards, and have demonstrated leadership abilities during their academic program at the local high schools.

2024 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists are

• Alfred Binu – Advanced Technologies Academy, Las Vegas
• Aashrith Chejerla – Advanced Technologies Academy, Las Vegas 
• Sanjeev Chundu – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Vanita Q. Indrakumar – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Vidya Q. Indrakumar – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Parth P. Joshi – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Ashritha Kalakuntla – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Unnatee Kumar – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Anay T. Malhotra – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Diva Saxena – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Varun Suvaari – Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas 
• Akash R. Abraham – Faith Lutheran High School, Las Vegas
• Zain I. Siddiqui – Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas
• Meher Dhaliwal – The Meadows School, Las Vegas
• Vivek G. Variar – Palo Verde High School, Las Vegas
• Vishnu Yadagani – West Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas
• Shishir Vasireddy – Coral Academy of Science, Reno
• Vishal Karuppasamy – The Davidson Academy, Reno
• Nikhil Chitturi – Galena High School, Reno

From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February, they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, regardless of gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.