Hopkins School ’26
St. Thomas’s Day School ’20
When the National Merit Scholarship Corporation recently announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program, St. Thomas’s alum Marlon McFerren ’20 was on the list. Congratulations, Marlon!
“St. Thomas’s gave me the foundation and skills to perform well at Hopkins by equipping me with strong study habits and encouraging curiosity across subjects. More importantly, St. Thomas’s provided me with a sturdy ethical sense that has guided me as a student and teammate. These values have also encouraged me to pursue service opportunities at Hopkins that promote equality and inclusion. I am so grateful to be a member of the St. Thomas’s community”, he comments.
This year’s qualification cutoff for Connecticut is 223 — a record high for the state — and the national Selection Index tops out at 228. Semifinalists now have the opportunity to continue in the competition to be awarded in the spring of 2026. To advance to Finalist standing, Semifinalists must submit a detailed scholarship application, maintain an outstanding academic record, earn verified SAT or ACT scores, and be endorsed by their high school. About 95 percent of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists, and roughly half of the Finalists will go on to earn the title of National Merit Scholar.
