9 River Valley Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

Nine students from three River Valley high schools just achieved what fewer than one in 100 students nationwide accomplish each year.

Five seniors from Southside High School in Fort Smith, three from Greenwood High School, and one from Poteau High School in Oklahoma earned National Merit semifinalist status this week. The honor recognizes their exceptional performance on the PSAT/NMSQT exam taken during their junior year.

The Southside honorees are Hallie Anderson, Tyson Blackwell, Timothy Carrier, Benjamin Ostrander, and Samuel Prewitt. Greenwood's semifinalists include Gavin Fisher, Connor Mitchum, and Noah Myers. Aries Claborn represents Poteau High School.

More than 1.2 million juniors from about 20,000 schools entered the 2027 National Merit competition. These nine students ranked among just 16,000 semifinalists selected nationwide based on their test scores.

The path forward requires more than excellent test performance. Each student must submit a detailed scholarship application showcasing their academic record, leadership roles, community involvement, and employment history. They'll also write an essay and earn strong SAT or ACT scores to confirm their qualifying test performance.

About 95% of semifinalists typically advance to finalist status, with notifications coming in February. Roughly half of those finalists will receive scholarships ranging from $2,500 one-time awards to renewable college-specific scholarships.

The stakes are significant. The program will award approximately 6,700 scholarships totaling $24 million next spring. These include corporate-sponsored awards and scholarships from about 140 participating colleges and universities.

Why This Inspires

Since 1955, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation has recognized more than 395,000 students with the Merit Scholar title. This year's River Valley semifinalists join a long tradition of academic excellence that opens doors to educational opportunities and celebrates dedication to learning.

Their achievement reflects countless hours of studying, natural talent, and the support of teachers and families who encouraged their academic growth. For communities like Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Poteau, these students represent hometown pride and proof that excellence thrives in schools of all sizes.

Winners will be announced in four rounds between April and July 2027, giving these nine students several months to complete their applications and dream about their college futures.