Elizabethtown Area High School is proud to announce that senior Laura Kleis has been named a Semifinalist in the prestigious 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Superintendent Tom Strickler and Elizabethtown Area High School Principal Dr. Jason D'Amico met with Kleis on September 14 to congratulate her on the recognition and celebrate her outstanding academic achievement.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is one of the nation's most distinguished academic recognition programs. More than 16,000 students have been named Semifinalists in the 2027 competition, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors and including the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

More than 1.2 million juniors from approximately 20,000 high schools entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as the initial screening for the competition.

Semifinalists now have an opportunity to advance to Finalist standing and compete for National Merit Scholarships. To advance, Semifinalists and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application that includes information about the student's academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards. Students must also meet additional academic and program requirements.

Approximately 95% of Semifinalists are expected to advance to Finalist standing. Finalists will compete for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million that will be awarded in spring 2027.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered: 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships awarded on a state-representational basis; approximately 700 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards provided by about 120 corporations and business organizations; and approximately 3,500 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 140 colleges and universities for Finalists who plan to attend a sponsoring institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in four nationwide releases beginning in April and concluding in July 2027.

Laura is the daughter of Richard and Jillian Kleis of Elizabethtown.

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