Champaign Centennial High School senior Jieun Lee has been named a Semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, placing her among the nation’s top high school scholars.
More than 1.3 million juniors in over 21,000 U.S. high schools entered the program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The nationwide pool of about 16,000 Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
Semifinalists now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million, which will be awarded in spring 2026.
Jieun’s recognition is an incredible achievement and a reflection of her dedication to academic excellence. Champaign Unit 4 Schools is proud to celebrate this honor with her.
For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program, visit
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