Graphic featuring six student headshots with the National Merit Scholarship Program “Semifinalists” logo and text on a blue background.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) has named six Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) students as semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit® Scholarship Program.

Congratulations to the following PWCS semifinalists:

  • Sajeela Ahmad, Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School
  • William Hamilton, Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School
  • Samuel Zhang, Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School
  • Abigail Chang, Gainesville High School
  • Devin Wanchoo, Osbourn Park High School
  • Sophia Ramirez Jam, Woodbridge High School

In addition, three students who previously attended PWCS and now attend Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology also qualified as semifinalists:

  • Jacob Percy, previous student at Bull Run Middle School
  • Alexis Lwin and Jonathan Yang, previous students at Ronald Reagan Middle School

More than 16,000 high school seniors nationwide were selected as semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These students now have the opportunity to continue competing for National Merit Scholarships.

To become a semifinalist, students must demonstrate an outstanding academic record throughout high school, receive a recommendation from a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm their performance on the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

To become a finalist, semifinalists and their school officials must submit a detailed scholarship application that includes information about academic achievement, participation in school and community activities, leadership experience, employment, and honors and awards.

National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in spring 2027.

For more information about the National Merit® Scholarship Program, please visit the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website.