Five Harpeth Hall seniors earn National Merit Semifinalist distinction

Five members of Harpeth Hall’s Class of 2024 earned the distinct honor of being named semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship program.

The Harpeth Hall seniors are among 16,000 semifinalists from across the country. The girls credit the achievement to the high-quality education, guidance, and support they received in their years at Harpeth Hall.

“My teachers at Harpeth Hall have been pivotal to my time here, as their mentorship has enabled me to grow both in and outside of the classroom,” National Merit Semifinalist Davern Cigarran said. “My teachers both challenge me to think critically about the topics we are covering and support me in my academic growth.”

The road to National Merit semifinalist recognition begins during a student’s junior year when she takes the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The exam measures a student’s critical reading ability, mathematical problem-solving skills, and writing ability.

To advance as a National Merit finalist and be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record and receive recommendation letters from school officials. They must also submit a scholarship application that highlights academic record, participation in school and community activities, and demonstrated leadership abilities.

"Being a National Merit Semifinalist is an honor, and I know that the support from my community has been essential to this achievement,” said Davern, who, in true Honeybear spirit, is a leader outside of the classroom as well. She is co-founder of Harpeth Hall’s Polar Bear hockey team, a student ambassador, and a member of the Mock Trial team.

The highest-scoring program entrants in each state are selected as National Merit semifinalists. Harpeth Hall’s honorees are in the top 1% of high school seniors across the country.

“It's a great honor to be chosen as a National Merit Semifinalist, and I hope that this opportunity will open doors for me in the future,” senior Julia Miller said.  “My teachers have always created such an encouraging environment, and I've always felt like I could achieve my goals with their help.”

Congratulations to Harpeth Hall’s National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists

Madeline Bell
Madison Chung
Davern Cigarran
Natalie DiMaria
Julia Miller