Lindale ISD students earn National Merit honors

Lindale—Lindale High School seniors Owen W. Bewersdorf and Odin M. Burks have been named semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, one of the most prestigious academic competitions for high school students in the nation. The National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced the semifinalists for its 71st annual competition on Sept. 23.

They are among approximately 16,000 semifinalists across the country who now have the opportunity to compete for nearly 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth close to $26 million. Winners will be announced next spring, with about half of the finalists expected to earn the title of Merit Scholar.

The program, established in 1955, is a not-for-profit organization funded by its own reserves, as well as contributions from individuals, businesses and educational institutions. 

Bewersdorf and Burks were two of 1.3 million juniors who entered the program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors are named semifinalists, with selections based on the highest scores in each state.

To advance to the finalist round, semifinalists must submit an application that highlights their academic record, extracurricular achievements, leadership experience, employment history and honors. They also need strong SAT or ACT scores, a high GPA, a recommendation from a school official, and a personal essay. About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to be named finalists in February.

The honor reflects years of academic commitment by Bewersdorf and Burks, placing them among the top-performing students in the nation.