national merit

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a prestigious academic competition that recognizes and awards high-achieving high school students. Based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, students may qualify as Commended Scholars, Semifinalists, or Finalists, with top finalists earning scholarships sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

This year, several Klein ISD students were named National Merit Commended Scholars and Semifinalists.

“I am so proud of these outstanding scholars who have worked tirelessly to achieve this remarkable academic success,” Superintendent Dr. Jenny McGown said. “These students exemplify Klein ISD’s tradition of academic excellence and demonstrate the power of hard work, grit, and determination.”

The application process for students is rigorous. Semifinalists who are considered for the Merit Scholarship award must fulfill several requirements to move on to be finalists. Students must have an exemplary academic standing, obtain an endorsement from a high school official, submit an essay, and provide their SAT and ACT scores.

“It’s an honor to celebrate these academically talented students,” Advanced Academic Services Director Kathleen Plott said. “Their dedication and perseverance in pursuing academic rigor have led to this outstanding achievement, a nationally recognized distinction that is truly well-deserved.”

Students who have qualified for the semifinalist standing represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, including the highest-scoring entrants in each state. All Merit Scholar winners are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential to be successful in their post-high school studies.

This tradition of excellence in Klein ISD continues with 43 students honored as National Merit Commended Scholars and 15 students recognized as Semifinalists. Semifinalists will now compete for one of 6,930 National Merit Scholarships, collectively worth nearly $26 million.

Congratulations to each of these gifted scholars! We are honored to have students like you who showcase what it means to live out your purpose.

National Merit Semifinalists

Name

School

Jibril Alvi 

Klein High School

Maddox Lee

Klein High School

Ryan Tom

Klein High School

William Toronto

Klein High School

Kagan Akcelik

Klein Oak High School

Rajarshi Ghosh

Klein Oak High School

Thomas O’Bannon

Klein Oak High School

Jonathan Jiang

Klein Collins High School

Joel Phillips

Klein Collins High School

Connor E. Depew

Klein Cain High School

Calvin J. Heiman

Klein Cain High School

Luke M. Heiman

Klein Cain High School

Muhammad S. Jamil

Klein Cain High School

Madhav Vinod

Klein Cain High School

Jonathan M. Zhao

Klein Cain High School

Commended Students

Name

School

Zafir S. Ahmed

Klein High School

Matthew K. Becker

Klein High School

Carter S. Childress

Klein High School

Ethan P. Fernandes

Klein High School

Thomas A. Galloway

Klein High School

Natalie E. Ivins

Klein High School

Nirunjun Kaur

Klein High School

Erik M. Laser

Klein High School

Luca D. Leblanc

Klein High School

Eric A. Martinez

Klein High School

Sarah T. Nguyen

Klein High School

Clarissa Sommerfeldt

Klein High School

Ahad Rahman

Klein Forest High School

Elaine Baldwin

Klein Oak High School

Azarias D. Cardona Petit

Klein Oak High School

Caden B. Chi

Klein Oak High School

Ethan Julian T. Coraza

Klein Oak High School

Liam Michael T. Coraza

Klein Oak High School

Jonas C. Hinshaw

Klein Oak High School

Glynn L. Johnson

Klein Oak High School

Jackson H. Lavire

Klein Oak High School

Myles M. Lucas

Klein Oak High School

Sanvi R. Nimma

Klein Oak High School

Anish B. Reddy

Klein Oak High School

Evelyn J. Richardson

Klein Oak High School

Nathan A. Cooper

Klein Collins High School

Anami Y. Dalsaniya

Klein Collins High School

Noach Matteo P. Dujunco

Klein Collins High School

Brent P. Jahn

Klein Collins High School

Jolie T. Nguyen

Klein Collins High School

Noah L. Nguyen

Klein Collins High School

Nhi Vo

Klein Collins High School

Mayowa I. Funmilayo

Klein Cain High School

Parker J. Glenn

Klein Cain High School

Sarvajit S. Jonnalagadda

Klein Cain High School

Tobin R.  Jordan

Klein Cain High School

Fawaz A. Khan

Klein Cain High School

Bradley M. Pagano

Klein Cain High School

Juliet E. Rice

Klein Cain High School

Ammar Shariq Islam

Klein Cain High School

Emily K. Svetlov

Klein Cain High School

Noah C. To

Klein Cain High School

Jack H. White

Klein Cain High School