National Merit Scholarship Corporation is pleased to announce Indian-American students from the local Las Vegas schools as Semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. 

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent 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.

2025 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists are

• Devan Umakanthan – Coronado High School
• Alexia Binu – Ed. W. Clark High School
• Ethan Kurian – Ed. W. Clark High School
• Dishetha Mamidi – Ed. W. Clark High School
• Ishan Abraham – Faith Lutheran High School
• Avinash Garg – Bishop Gorman High School
• Aryan Singh – The Meadows School

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. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.