Spring Valley Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists! 🎓💚💛


Spring Valley High School is proud to announce that seniors Ella Baker, Jacob Carter, Sreeman Parise, and Colin Tang have been named National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

These students are among approximately 15,000 finalists nationwide who will now move forward to compete for about 7,500 National Merit Scholarships, totaling roughly $32 million, which will be awarded next spring. We are thrilled to celebrate this outstanding academic achievement and congratulate our students on reaching this prestigious level of recognition.


Merit Scholarship® Award Types

Beginning in March and continuing through mid-June, NMSC will notify approximately 7,500 finalists at their home addresses if they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship® award. These scholarships fall into three categories:

1) National Merit® $2500 Scholarships

Every finalist is considered for these one-time scholarships, which are awarded on a state-representational basis. Winners are selected without regard to financial need, college choice, or career plans.

2) Corporate-Sponsored Merit Scholarship® Awards

These awards are provided by corporate sponsors and may be designated for:

  • Children of employees or members
  • Residents of communities where the sponsor operates
  • Finalists with career plans the sponsor wishes to encourage

Corporate-sponsored awards may be one-time or renewable for up to four years.

3) College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship® Awards

Sponsor colleges and universities select recipients from finalists who:

  • Have been accepted for admission, and
  • Have identified the sponsor institution as their first choice with NMSC by published deadlines

These awards are typically renewable for up to four years.


Merit Scholarships are supported by approximately 420 sponsor organizations, including corporations, foundations, professional associations, and colleges/universities, as well as NMSC’s own funds. NMSC is a nonprofit organization established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Congratulations again to Ella, Jacob, Sreeman, and Colin—you represent the very best of Spring Valley! 💚💛