2 Plainfield North Students Named Semifinalist In 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program

PLAINFIELD, IL — Two Plainfield North High School students were named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 204 announced Friday.

Yash Patel and Madeleine Yui are among the 16,000 semifinalists in the 72nd annual program that awards nearly $24 million in scholarships to high school seniors across the country.

More than 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level. Those who will move on will learn if they've earned the next distinction in February.

To become a finalist, Patel, Yui and a high school official will have to submit detailed applications sharing information about the semifinalists' academic records, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards they have received.

To be considered, semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the students' earlier performance on the qualifying test.

About 6,700 scholarships will be awarded to winners in the spring. About 140 colleges and universities are expected to finance about 3,500 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists attending their sponsoring institution.