WKU News

BOWLING GREEN – Sixteen seniors from The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky have been recognized as Semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Since The Gatton Academy’s inception in 2007, a total of 307 students have been named National Merit Semifinalists.  Since students take the qualifying PSAT exam in October of their junior year of high school, much of their preparation stems from learning opportunities during their freshman and sophomore years of high school. The Gatton Academy builds on students’ sending school experiences to provide them with preparation for the ACT® and SAT®, critical components in becoming finalists.

The 2026-2027 National Merit Semifinalists from The Gatton Academy are:

·       Nishita Chaduvula (Eastern High School) of Louisville

·       Leah Chen (Bowling Green High School) of Bowling Green

·       Ram Danturthi (John Hardin High School) of Elizabethtown

·       Sam Dunlap (Franklin-Simpson High School) of Franklin

·       Divine Ezinma (Calloway County High School) of Murray

·       Hudson Feinauer (St. Henry District High School) of Independence

·       Samuel H. Gordon (Daviess County High School) of Owensboro

·       Malleshwar Jayaraman Suresh (Western Hills High School) of Frankfort

·       Jonas Lamb (LaRue County High School) of Hodgenville

·       Roy David Lightfoot (Bowling Green High School) of Bowling Green

·       River McDurmon (Madisonville North Hopkins High School) of Madisonville

·       CJ Moody (Christian Academy of Louisville) of Louisville

·       Michelle Morttey (Atherton High School) of Louisville

·       Soham Patel (LaRue County High School) of Hodgenville

·       Evan Self (LaRue County High School) of Magnolia

·       Kat Tellez (Trigg County High School) of Cadiz

More than 1.2 million juniors entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as the initial screening of program entrants.  From this list comes the nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.  The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

“The Gatton Academy community are extremely proud of these 16 students’ accomplishment. The National Merit Scholarship program is a perennial American institution recognizing top-performing high school seniors,” said Dr. Derick Strode, Director of The Gatton Academy. “It’s extremely exciting for our semi-finalists to represent their home school districts and hometowns across the Commonwealth in this prestigious selection.”

            Of the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level.  To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist and their school must submit a detailed scholarship application, providing information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.  A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout their high school career, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn ACT® and SAT® scores that confirm the Semifinalist’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. 

Finalists will be announced in February, and all National Merit Scholarship winners for 2027 are selected from this group. Winners will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July 2027. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

            For more information about The Gatton Academy, visit www.wku.edu/academy or call (270) 745-6565.

About the National Merit Scholarship Program: Established in 1955, National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. NMSC conducts the National Merit® Scholarship Program and the National Achievement® Scholarship Program–annual competitions for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships. The honors awarded by NMSC to exceptionally able students are viewed as definitive marks of excellence. Recipients of Merit Scholarship® awards, Achievement Scholarship® awards, and corporate-sponsored Special Scholarships have increased the nation’s respect for intellectual accomplishments and have contributed significantly to its talent pool of future leaders.

About The Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first residential two-year program for gifted and talented juniors and seniors. The Gatton Academy’s students enroll as juniors and are full-time WKU students pursuing their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Gatton Academy is a recipient of the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity Magazine and the Innovation Partnership Award from the National Consortium for Secondary STEM Schools.